SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 16/NR Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (9-1, 6-0 CCAA) kept its CCAA regular-season win streak alive at 23 games with a 66-65 victory over Cal State LA (6-6, 3-4 CCAA) on Sunday afternoon in The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Mina Tameilau – 20 points | 5 rebounds | 2 assists
Dynnah Buckner – 16 points | 8 rebounds | 2 steals
Kate Carlson – 11 points | 10 rebounds
Charity Gallegos – 10 points | 4 rebounds
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars took the first lead of the game at the 2:21 mark of the first quarter when Carlson fed the ball to Kayden Korst for a layup to make it 10-9.
• CSUSM ended the opening quarter down 13-12 after shooting 21.4% (3-of-14) from the field to CSULA's 31.3% (5-of-16).
• The Golden Eagles took their largest lead of the game at the 7:24 mark of the second quarter when Nicole Flennaugh made three consecutive free throws after being fouled on a trey.
• The Cougars retook the lead at 28-27 when Carlson grabbed a defensive rebound and dished it out to Tameilau, who scored on a fastbreak layup with 1:37 remaining.
• CSUSM held a 30-29 lead at halftime after shooting 38.9% (7-of-18) from the field in the second quarter and going a perfect 9-of-9 at the free throw line in the first half.
• Tameilau scored nine of her 20 points in the third quarter as the score was tied at 47-all with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
• The fourth quarter consisted of seven lead changes and five ties.
• CSUSM went up by four (51-47) with 8:46 on the clock after Gallegos made both ends of her free throws.
• CSULA answered back with back-to-back 3-pointers by Raya Smith and Yesenia Smith with 7:46 remaining.
• Down 60-55 at 4:08, Carlson connected on a pair of free throw and Kelsey Forrester sunk her only 3-pointer of the game from the top of the key to even the game.
• CSULA took a 65-64 lead after Lily Buggs scored off a turnover with 13 seconds remaining.
• After drawing a foul on a drive, Dynnah Buckner saw her first free throw bounce around before dropping in to tie it at 65-all. Her second free throw was nothing but net with nine seconds on the clock.
• CSUSM's defense stopped the Golden Eagles from scoring in the final seconds.  
   

FAST BREAKS

• The Cougars began their conference regular-season win streak back on Dec. 9, 2021 with a 76-70 victory at Cal State Monterey Bay.
• After tallying 10 3-pointers in their last meeting on Dec. 19 in Los Angeles, the Cougars were held to just two from behind the arc on Sunday.
• The Cougars won the battle of the boards, outrebounding CSULA 44-36.
• There were a total of 15 lead changes and 14 ties in the game.
• CSUSM led for just 11:34 of the game while CSULA was on top for 21:42.
• Carlson registered her second consecutive double-double, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. 
• Tameilau's 20 points were a season high and the second most in her career. While playing for Cal State East Bay last season, she tallied 30 points at CSULA. 
• CSUSM extended its win streak over the Golden Eagles to nine games
• The Cougars are 6-0 against CSULA when playing in The Sports Center and 10-5 overall in the series.
• One-third of CSUSM's points came from the free throw line (22-of-27).
• CSULA scored 18 of its points off CSUSM turnovers while the Cougars scored 15 points on fast breaks.
• This is CSUSM's first season sweep of 2022-23.
   

 

Listen to @JonathanRifkind's interview with Head Coach Renee Jimenez after the Cougars' 66-65 win over CSULA. #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/Aol7R4bB9M

— CSUSM Women's Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) January 2, 2023

UP NEXT
The Cougars will embark on a four-game road trip this week, starting with a 5:30 p.m. at Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, Jan. 5.