Cal State LA Women’s Basketball extended its winning streak to eight games, defeating Chico State 76-66 at University Gym on Saturday.
With the win, the Golden Eagles (14-5, 11-3 CCAA) stayed tied atop the conference standings with the Wildcats (15-5, 11-3).
Cal State LA got off to a slow start, limited by Chico State to just eight points midway through the first quarter. A foul by Wildcats guard Kamil Reid with 5:27 left in the period set up forward Amaya Fuentes to tie the score, but the Golden Eagles did not score again until senior guard Nevaeh Asiasi knocked down a basket with 48 seconds remaining. Cal State LA ended the first quarter trailing 20-10.
Asiasi said defensive stops helped shift momentum after the slow opening frame.
“I think once we adjusted and got into the paint and played on two, we were able to get momentum that way, and obviously defensively we were able to get some stops which helped us out,” Asiasi said.
Mariah Blake opened the second quarter by scoring the first three points of the period. Senior guard Gabriella Rones followed with a three at the 8:13 mark, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to 20-16.
Chico State guard Jiana Creswell responded at 7:41 to push the lead back out. After a two-minute scoreless stretch, Ronyae Jackson knocked down a jumper to bring the margin back to five.
Cal State LA then found its rhythm. Back-to-back three-pointers from junior guard Sofia Fidelus, followed by a jumper from Jackson, tied the game at 28 with 1:53 left in the half. The Golden Eagles closed the second quarter with a one-point advantage heading into halftime.
Fidelus said the team focused on making defensive adjustments at halftime after Chico State found success with open looks early on. By increasing ball pressure and changing their defensive approach, they were able to force turnovers, disrupt Chico State’s rhythm, and regain momentum in the second half.
Madison Parry led Chico State with 25 points and nine rebounds, while guard Kaylie Edge added 14 points and sophomore guard Sydney Peterson pulled down seven rebounds.
Fidelus paced the Golden Eagles with 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Asiasi added 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Blake finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Rones contributed 11 points, and Fuentes added seven points and two rebounds.
The third quarter remained tightly contested, with both teams trading baskets. Cal State LA began to gain momentum offensively but was unable to fully separate early in the frame. A foul by Wildcats guard Sydney Peterson at the 3:18 mark sent Fidelus to the free-throw line, where she converted both attempts.
The Golden Eagles’ defense held strong down the stretch of the quarter, allowing Cal State LA to carry a 54-52 lead into the final period.
Cal State LA opened the fourth quarter with baskets from Rones and Blake, continuing its offensive rhythm and building separation. After Chico State cut the deficit to five with 6:50 remaining, the Golden Eagles responded with a 6-0 run, fueled by two free throws from Blake and a basket by Fidelus, extending the lead to 69-58 with 3:42 to play.
Cal State LA maintained control the rest of the way, closing out the game at the free-throw line.
“Continuing to build on our momentum defensively, is our biggest focus right now. We’re able to speed teams up, play at our pace and put up numbers on the board. Continuing that is what we’re going to harp on,” Asiasi said.
Fidelus said the team is focused on pushing its offensive ceiling heading into the next matchup.
“Our goal is always to put 120 points on the board, and that’s something that a lot of teams can’t say, we’ve gotten close and we definitely can, so I think that’s something that we’re really pushing for,” Fidelus said.
The Golden Eagles will travel to face Cal State East Bay on Thursday.
