SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (5-2, 3-1 CCAA) held on for a 76-70 victory at Cal State Monterey Bay (1-7, 0-4 CCAA) on Thursday afternoon in The Kelp Bed.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Akayla Hackson – 24 points | 4 rebounds | 9-of-11 FG | 3-of-4 3FG | 2 steals
Dynnah Buckner – 20 points | 4-of-7 3FG | 5 rebounds | 3 steals
Kelsey Forrester – 13 points | 5-of-8 FG
Jordan Vasquez – 11 points | 3 rebounds | 4 assists
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first quarter, but the Otters came roaring back to even the game at 14-all.
• CSUSM closed out the opening quarter with a 19-16 lead after a Vasquez jumper.
• A 3-pointer by CSUMB's Lauryn Pointer put the Otters on top at 25-24 with 8:11 remaining in the second quarter.
• The Cougars answered with their largest run of the game of 11-0 to go up 35-25 with 5:57 on the clock.
• CSUSM took a 43-30 lead into the break after shooting 64.3% (18-of-28) from the field and outrebounded the Otters 16-10.
• The Cougars outscored CSUMB 24-14 in the second quarter.
• The Otters opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Tricia Delph to make it 43-33.
• A fast-break layup by Hackson put CSUSM up 52-37 with 5:26 on the clock.
• Dynnah Buckner sunk a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Cougars a 60-43 lead with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter.
• CSUSM closed out the third quarter with a Buckley jumper to take a 62-43 lead into the final 10 minute of play.
• The Otters turned the tables on the Cougars in the fourth quarter, outscoring CSUSM 27-14 while shooting 50% (10-of-20) from the field.  
• After starting the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run, CSUSM saw its 21-point lead get chipped away by CSUMB as the Otters scored 13 unanswered points to cut the game to 69-63.
• After Hackson scored on a layup, CSUMB's Frances Potts sunk a 3-pointer before Kate Carlson answered with her own layup to make it 73-66 with 27 seconds remaining in the game.
• CSUMB's Lauryn Pointer made both ends of her free throws to cut the Cougars' lead to six (73-68) once again.
• Hackson made three of her four free throws to clinch the win for CSUSM.

 
FAST BREAKS

• For the first time in her collegiate career, Buckner sunk four 3-pointers.
• Hackson tallied 20 or more points for the third time this season, finishing the night with 24 points. 
• The Cougars led for just over 36 minutes of the game and trailed for only 41 seconds of the first quarter.
• Forty of CSUSM's 76 points came from inside the paint while 14 points were from fast breaks.
• CSUMB got 33 points from its bench.
• The Cougars shot their second-highest field-goal percentage of the season at 54.4% (31-of-57).
• The Otters were limited to just three steals, the lowest an opponent has accumulated this season against the Cougars.
• After leading the battle of the boards at halftime, the Cougars registered only 12 rebounds to CSUMB's 27 to be outrebounded 28-37.
• With the win, the Cougars are now 8-2 in the all-time series against the Otters. 
• CSUSM raised its win streak to seven against CSUMB. 

UP NEXT
CSUSM plays its final game of the calendar year on Saturday, traveling to San Francisco State for a 1 p.m. tipoff.