SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team posted its biggest comeback of the season, a 16-point deficit, to knock off Chico State 76-67 in overtime in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) contest at The Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Jon'Nae Vermillion – 16 points | 10 rebounds
Emma Forel – 16 points | 7 rebounds | 3 steals
Dynnah Buckner – 12 points | 2 assists
Stephanie Custodio – 12 points | 6 rebounds | 3 assists
Akayla Hackson – 10 points | 5 rebounds
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars found themselves trailing 20-11 after the opening quarter.
• A layup by Davina Del Castillo closed the gap to 26-21 at 1:37, but the Wildcats responded to take a 32-21 advantage into the halftime break.
• The Cougars outscored Chico State 19-18 to take a 50-40 deficit into the final 10 minutes.
• CSUSM's defense held the Wildcats scoreless for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.
• The Cougars dwindled Chico's lead to just three on a layup by Hackson with 5:30 remaining.
• A sideways layup by Custodio cut the Wildcat lead to 58-57 with 1:56 left in the game.
• CSUSM's defense came up big once again as the Wildcats were called on a shot clock violation to give the Cougars the ball.
• Buckner's two free throws at 1:06 gave the Cougars the lead for the first time since the opening 20 seconds at 59-58.
• Chico State's Vanessa Holland got a second chance layup to put the Wildcats back on top at 60-59 with 30 seconds on the clock.
• An inbound pass that missed its mark gave Chico State the ball once again.
• Chico State's McKena Barker connected on just one of her two free throws after CSUSM fouled to stop the clock to make it 61-59.
• Buckner drove to the basket and flipped the ball in to even the game at 61-61.
• A last second jumper by Chico State's Natalie Valenzuela came up just short, forcing the game into overtime at 61-61.
• Vermillion got things started in overtime with a post move that ended with a layup to give CSUSM a 63-61 lead.
• Hackson made both ends of her free throws and Buckner followed with a layup to give CSUSM a 67-64 lead with 3:09 remaining.
• Chico State made 3-of-4 free throws to knot the game at 67-67 at 2:11.
• CSUSM's offense exploded with an 8-0 run and held the Wildcats scoreless in the final two minutes of overtime.

 
FAST BREAKS

• With the win, CSUSM (9-4, 6-3 CCAA) remains tied for third in the CCAA standings with San Francisco State. The Wildcats (7-4, 4-4 CCAA) are in a three-way tie for fifth with Humboldt State and Cal State East Bay.
• Five Cougars reached double digits in scoring for the third time this season.
• CSUSM trailed by 16 points with 4:22 remaining in the third quarter.
• Vermillion notched her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• The Cougars held the advantage in rebounds (44-32) with 14 coming on the offensive end.
• CSUSM forced 18 turnovers while recording the Cougars' second-lowest total of the season with 12.
• The Cougars shot just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from the 3-point line while Chico State knocked down 8-of-21 (39.1 percent).
• Despite their 3-point shooting, the Cougars outshot the Wildcats 40.9 percent to 39.7 percent.

.@CSUSM_WBB's Head Coach Renee Jimenez discusses how proud she was of the squad's overtime win over Chico State. #BleedBlue4Decade2 #goCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/UAteZbT7oa

— CSUSM Athletics (@CSUSMcougars) January 6, 2019

 
 

.@CSUSM_WBB's Jon'Nae Vermillion gushes on about her 💙 for her teammates in their overtime win over Chico State #BleedBlue4Decade2 #goCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/6vkXQVehiE

— CSUSM Athletics (@CSUSMcougars) January 6, 2019

UP NEXT
The Cougars take to the road for the next four games, beginning with a stop at Stanislaus State on Thursday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.