CARSON, Calif. – The No. 16/22 and third-seeded Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (24-5) earned its first NCAA West Regional victory, defeating sixth-seeded Central Washington 86-74 in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in the Torodome on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Charity Gallegos – 27 points | 12-of-17 FG | 7 rebounds | 3 steals
Dynnah Buckner – 16 points | 2 rebounds | 2 steals
Mina Tameilau – 15 points | 5 rebounds | 1 blocked shot
Jordan Vasquez – 8 points | 5 rebounds
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars found themselves down 16-8 after a Samantha Bowman 3-pointer with 6:01 left in the opening period.
• A Dynnah Buckner reverse layup evened the game at 19-all with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
• A second-chance bucket by Kate Carlson gave CSUSM its first lead of the game at 23-21 with 2:10 on the clock.
• After being fouled on a 3-pointer, Forrester sunk all three of her free throws to give CSUSM a 28-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• CSUSM raised its lead 39-34 on a left-handed layup by Malia Mastora with four minutes remaining in the half.
• The Cougars took a 44-41 lead into the half after shooting 54.5% (18-of-33) to CWU's 47.4% (18-of-38).
• CSUSM closed out the third quarter on a 14-7 run sparked by a Carlson second-chance layup to take a 67-61 lead into the final quarter.
• There were eight lead changes and two tie scores in the third quarter, yet CSUSM led for 7:59 to CWU's 1:15 in the 10 minutes.
• CWU went 3-of-3 from the 3-point line to close in on the CSUSM lead at 76-70 with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.
• The Cougars got their first double-digit cushion at 82-72 with 4:12 remaining on a 3-pointer by Gallegos in front of the CSUSM bench.
• CSUSM's defense held the Wildcats scoreless from the field in the final four minutes, only allowing CWU to score two free throws as the Cougars clinched the win at 86-74.

FAST BREAKS

• Gallegos's 27 points was two shy of her career high which she matched in the CCAA Tournament Championship last weekend.
• CSUSM's eight turnovers were the second fewest this season. The Cougars tallied seven at Western Washington on Nov. 19.
• Both teams were perfect at the free throw line with CSUSM having a slight advantage at 11 trips to CWU's seven.
• This was CSUSM's first time this season shooting 100% from the free throw line.
• The Cougars shot a season-best 53.7% (35-of-65) from the field.
• CWU tallied its ninth-worst shooting percentage of the season at 42.3% (30-of-71).
• Leading the entire fourth quarter, CSUSM was on top for 29:43 while CWU led for 6:52.
• Bowman, the D2CCA West Region Player of the Year, led the Wildcats with 25 points and 16 rebounds.
• APU outrebounded the Cougars, 37-32. 
• This was the first meeting between the two teams.

 


UP NEXT
In a rematch of the last season's NCAA Division II West Regional Quarterfinal, the Cougars will next face seventh-seeded Azusa Pacific in the NCAA West Regional Semifinals on Saturday, March 11 at 5 p.m. in the Torodome.