SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Behind big free throws by Mylah Lewis and Sydney Hani, the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (7-11, 4-9 CCAA) earned a 56-53 home win over Stanislaus State (2-14, 1-12 CCAA) on Thursday evening at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Kaity Haan – 14 points | 8 rebounds
Sydney Hani – 10 points | 14 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 blocked shot
Portia Polo – 8 points | 2 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal
Maddie Leiva – 8 points | 3 rebounds | 1 assist
Kristan Yumul – 6 points | 3 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 blocked shot | 3 steals
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first quarter ended 12-12 after CSUSM built a 12-4 lead at 3:04 on a Leiva 3-pointer before Stanislaus State closed the frame on an Alyssa Premo jumper with 0:33 left.
• CSUSM posted its largest lead of the first half at 17-12 on Leiva's second-chance three at 8:00 of the second, but Eryn Gardner buried a right‑wing three with 0:02 remaining to give the Warriors a 25-24 halftime edge.
• At the break, CSUSM shot 32.1% (9-of-28) and 28.6% (4-of-14) from three while Stanislaus State shot 37.0% (10-of-27) and 28.6% (2-of-7).
• Out of halftime, Portia Polo's putback at 8:27 of the third made it 26-25 CSUSM, and Kaity Haan's layup at 7:38 pushed it to 28-25.
• Polo hit two free throws at 6:22 for a 31-27 cushion, and Tatum Tamashiro canned a three with 3:15 left in the period for a 36-29 lead.
• The Warriors answered with a 7-0 run to tie it 36-36 on Quinn Garrett's jumper at 0:48.
• In the fourth, Kalyn Harris hit a three at 8:01 for a 39-37 Stanislaus lead before Sydney Hani's putback tied it 39-39 at 7:28.
• After an Alyssa Premo transition layup made it 43-39 at 6:42—the Warriors' largest lead—CSUSM clawed back as Leiva scored in transition at 5:22 and Haan finished at the rim for a 46-45 advantage at 4:44.
• Trailing 49-46 at 4:02, CSUSM closed on a 10-4 surge, highlighted by Mylah Lewis sinking two free throws for a 54-53 lead with 0:19 remaining and Hani sealing it with two at 0:06 for the 56-53 final.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM won the battle on the glass, 39-34, behind Hani's 14 rebounds.
• The Cougars shot 37.7% (20-of-53) from the field and 22.7% (5-of-22) from three; the Warriors shot 37.9% (22-of-56) overall and 25.0% (4-of-15) from deep.
• Bench points favored Stanislaus State 23-15, while CSUSM led 30-28 in points in the paint and 11-7 in second-chance points.
• Turnovers were nearly even (CSUSM 13, Stanislaus 12), with the Cougars turning them into 6 points to the Warriors' 5.
• The game featured 16 lead changes and 6 ties.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM continues its four-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 31, hosting UC Merced at 1 p.m. at The Sports Center.