CSUSM Begins NCAA West Regional with Blowout Win Against Point Loma
AZUSA, Calif. – The No. 24 and second-seeded Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (24-6) earned an 82-61 win over seventh-seeded Point Loma (18-13) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II West Regional on Friday afternoon at Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jordan Vasquez – 30 points | 12 rebounds | 3 steals
Mina Tameilau – 9 points | 6 rebounds | 5 assists | 1 steal
Malia Mastora – 9 points | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal | 1 block
Charity Gallegos – 8 points | 7 assists | 3 steals
Truitt Reilly – 8 points | 6 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 block
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM led 26-16 after the first 10 minutes of play as Vasquez led the quarter with 15 points and four rebounds. The Cougars shot 56.3% (9-of-16) in the first period while the Sea Lions checked in at 46.2% (6-of-13).
- The Cougars went up 33-20 on a Reilly layup with 6:25 to play in the second quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers by the Sea Lions' Tavia Rowell and Elle Hanson made it a seven-point game at 33-26 with 5:38 to go.
- CSUSM had a 47-28 lead over PLNU at the half, shooting exactly the same in the second quarter as the first while holding the Sea Lions to 35.7% (5-of-14).
- Vazquez ended the first half one rebound shy of a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds.
- The Cougars took a 21-point lead with their first basket of the second half as a Vasquez layup put CSUSM up 49-28 with 9:35 to go in the third period.
- Vasquez earned the double-double with her 10th board of the game with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter.
- The Cougars led 62-44 following the third period, shooting 50% (7-of-14) while the Sea Lions came in at 37.5% (6-of-16).
- CSUSM posted its largest lead of the game at 27 points with just 3:13 left in the contest on a driving layup by Reilly to make it 76-49.
FAST BREAKS
- The Cougars will be making their second consecutive trip to the NCAA West Regional Semifinals.
- Last season, CSUSM defeated Azusa Pacific, 75-67.
- Jordan Vasquez collected her 21st double-double of the season (30 pts, 12 reb.) and the 47th of her collegiate career.
- Vasquez's 30 points were a career high.
- CSUSM shot 52.5% (31-of-59) from the field, the fourth highest of the season, while Point Loma turned in a 41.4% (24-of-58) field-goal percentage.
- The Cougars won the battle of the boards, 39-26.
- CSUSM got 12 points off second-chance attempts while the Sea Lions were held scoreless on the offensive boards.
- The Cougars recorded 17 points off PLNU's 14 turnovers while the Sea Lions only tallied nine points off CSUSM's 10 turnovers.
- CSUSM dished out a season-best 23 assists with Charity Gallegos leading the way with her season-high seven.
- The Cougars collected 11 steals, their second most of the season, with Vasquez and Gallegos tallying three each.
- CSUSM is now 6-9 in the all-time series against PLNU and has won five of the last six meetings against the Sea Lions.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will face No. 16 and third-seeded Western Washington in the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Felix Event Center.
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