SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team kept its winning streak alive on Saturday afternoon, defeating San Francisco State 55-43 in the Cougars' annual Homecoming game at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Kayden Korst – 16 points | 4-of-8 3FG | 1 assist
Dynnah Buckner – 14 points | 7-of-16 FG | 1 blocked shot
Chloe Eackles – 8 points | 6 rebounds | 3 blocked shots
Jon'Nae Vermillion – 9 rebounds | 4 steals
Akayla Hackson – 8 points | 7 rebounds
Kelsey Forrester – 5 points | 6 assists
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars took a 9-3 lead in the opening five minutes with SF State's first three points coming from the free throw line.
• CSUSM's defense held the Gators scoreless from the floor until a layup by Ashley Hart at 4:22 in the first quarter.
• The Cougars were outscored in the second quarter 7-5 but took a 30-15 lead into halftime.
• CSUSM shot 34.3% (12-of-35) from the field in the first half while the Gators were limited to 17.2% (5-of-29).
• The Gators made it a single-digit scoring difference in the second half at 32-23 with 8:04 on the clock after Kele Pickeral-Dennis's layup in the third quarter.
• The Cougars took their largest lead of the game at 50-29 on a 3-pointer by Korst with 2:33 remaining in the third quarter.
• Korst went 4-of-7 from behind the arc in the third quarter to give the Cougars a 50-34 lead.
• The Gators ended the third and began the fourth on a 9-0 run to close the gap to 50-38, capped by a Muirae Gomez jumper.
• Both teams shot under 25% from the field in the fourth quarter with a total of eight turnovers committed.

 
FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM improves to 5-0 (3-0 CCAA) while SF State 0-5 (0-2 CCAA).
• The Cougars led wire-to-wire in the game.
• CSUSM held a slight edge in the rebounding contest, finishing at 46-42.
• Forrester, the only Cougar to go to the charity stripe, was a perfect 2-of-2.
• CSUSM scored a game-high 25 points in the first quarter after shooting 56.2% while holding the Gators to 12.5%.
• With the win, the Cougars are 5-2 in the all-time series with the Gators and 2-1 in The Sports Center. 

Head Coach Renee Jimenez notes how proud she is of her team on staying focused to capture today's win after Thursday's historic victory at No.6/6 UCSD. #BleedBlue #goCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/RH8zJqi8r3

— CSUSM Women's Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) November 24, 2019

 

UP NEXT
The Cougars head to the Hawaiian Islands next week for the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic. CSUSM will face No. 12/13 Minnesota State-Moorhead at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Chaminade on Friday, Nov. 29 at 4:30 p.m.