The Cal State LA women’s basketball team capped off a home weekend sweep by winning big against the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters 76-45 on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The Golden Eagles came out the gate strong in the first quarter, scoring 20 points while holding the Otters to nine. The Golden Eagles’ strong defense in the paint forced the Otters’s hand to make poor shots. On the other hand, the team’s offense dominated, racking up 16 points in the paint while holding the Otters to two points.
Entering the second quarter, the Golden Eagles continued their advances by making it rain with three-pointers from Mary Cotton, Gabriella Rones and Sofia Fidelus, getting up to a 34-14 lead. The Otters didn’t go out quietly, as they closed out on an 8-0 run and cutting the lead slightly 34-22.
The momentum carried over into the third quarter for the Otters, and it saw the Golden Eagles’ lead cut to 10. The Golden Eagles’ offense sparked an incredible 18-3 run, giving them a 54-29 lead, squandering any chances of a comeback for the Otters. The defense in the paint proved to be a factor again, forcing more bad shots from the Otters. The same results came into play heading into the fourth quarter.
The Golden Eagles’ lead increased as they mustered a 35-point lead in the fourth quarter. The game was put to rest as the team went on to win 76-45.
“We knew we had to be aggressive and come out hitting first. We have a lot that we can improve on as a team,” said guard Lily Buggs. “It’s early in the season, so we’re just trying to make sure that we grow and attack every team with as much force as possible.”
It was pure domination from the Golden Eagles as the team shot 47.7 percent from the field while shooting 44 percent from three. The team also dominated on points in the paint, outscoring the Otters 46-22. Buggs led the team with 13 points, with her teammates Asiasi Nevaeh and Fidelus right behind her, having 12 and 10 points. The rebounding game also favored the Golden Eagles as they outnumbered their opponents 41-29. This marks the Golden Eagles’ sixth victory of the season.
Head Coach Torino Johnson touched upon his game plan heading into the match postgame.
“I say ball security and limiting our turnovers, and then trying to apply pressure on the offensive rebounding category,” said Johnson. “Defensively, we were able to wall and use verticality while being technical with our approach and doing the little things right.”
The Golden Eagles improved their team record to 6-1 to start the season, and the team’s next game is at home on Thursday, Dec. 19, against Central Washington University at 5:30 p.m.
