SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team reached the 20-win plateau for the first time in school history while the Cougars collected their sixth consecutive win with a 74-55 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Akayla Hackson – 20 points | 4-of-6 3FG | 5 rebounds | 2 steals
Dynnah Buckner – 17 points | 2-of-2 3FG | 5 rebounds | 1 blocked shot
Kelsey Forrester – 11 points | 3-of-4 3FG | 4-of-5 FG
Emma Forel – 8 points | 6 rebounds | 1 assist
Stephanie Custodio – 5 rebounds | 5 assists | 4 points
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars took a 7-6 lead over Cal State Dominguez Hills on a Forrester fast-break layup.
• After five lead changes and one tie in the first quarter, a Forrester 3-pointer put CSUSM up for good at 14-12 to close out the opening 10 minutes.  
• The Cougars went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-12 lead over the Toros in the second quarter.
• The Cougars took a 31-27 lead over CSUDH into the halftime break.
• CSUSM kept the Toros scoreless from behind the 3-point line (0-of-8) while sinking 4-of-5.
• The Toros got within two points (34-32) on an Alzena Henry layup at 7:48 in the third quarter.
• CSUSM answered with a 9-2 run capped by a Stephanie Custodio short jumper at 5:12.
• After a Jon'Nae Vermillion bucket at 4:14 of the third quarter, the Cougars went up 45-34 and never allowed the Toros within single digits for the remainder of the game.
• Hackson notched two four-point plays (fouled on a made 3-pointer) in the third quarter.
• CSUSM took its largest lead of the game at 74-52 on a Buckner jumper with 1:42 remaining in the game.

 
FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM improves to 20-4 (15-4 CCAA) while the Toros fall to 10-14 (7-11 CCAA).
• The Cougars remain in second place in the CCAA standings as the five other conference games are being played at 5:30 p.m. tonight.
• CSUSM outscored the Toros in every quarter, posting a dominating 25-11 performance in the third quarter.
• The Cougars matched their lowest turnover total of the season, finishing with eight.
• CSUSM shot higher than 50% for a program-record seventh time this season, going 28-of-55 (50.9%) from the field.
• The Cougars sunk 10 3-pointers for the second time this season, finishing at 62.5% (10-of-16).
• CSUSM led for 32:19 of the game while the Toros were on top for only 6:48 – all in the first quarter.
• The Toros played with only six players while CSUSM got 19 points from its bench.
• The Cougars have now won the last three meeting against the Toros and are 3-3 when playing on their home court.

 

Head Coach Renee Jimenez is excited about the trajectory of the program as the Cougars earned their 20th win of the season on Saturday. #BleedBlue #goCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/qdp2sSqaJF

— CSUSM Women's Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) February 15, 2020

 

Dynnah Buckner contributes the team's strong trust and communication skills to lifting the Cougars to their sixth consecutive win. #BleedBlue #GoCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/0OojyU6rFq

— CSUSM Women's Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) February 15, 2020

 


UP NEXT
The Cougars make their final trip north of the regular season next week, traveling to Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off before stopping at Cal State East Bay for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday.