LILY BUGGS POSTGAME INTERVIEW
ARCATA -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team continued its historic season on Thursday with an exciting 57-52 victory over Sonoma State in an opening-round game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament at Cal Poly Humboldt's Lumberjack Arena.
The No. 3 seeded Golden Eagles scored the final six points of the game in the last minute of the game to secure their first CCAA Tournament victory since 2014. Cal State LA (14-12) was on the right side of the ninth lead change in a spirited contest that saw plenty of momentum shifts and inspired play.
The win was also the first in three tries this season for the Golden Eagles against No. 6 seed Sonoma State. The Seawolves (10-17) earned their way into the tournament with a victory at home over Cal State LA on the final day of the regular-season. Cal State LA is now 9-2 in its last 11 games against CCAA competition.
Up next for the Golden Eagles is a third meeting this season against No. 2 seed Cal State East Bay. Cal State LA lost a pair of hard-fought games to the Pioneers during the regular season. Cal State East Bay and No. 1 seed Cal State Monterey Bay each received first-round byes.
Lily Buggs led the way for the Golden Eagles with a sensational performance. The CCAA Freshman of the Year had a team-high 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals and was all over the court for the Golden Eagles both offensively and defensively.
Jada Johnson also had a strong game for the Golden Eagles with 12 points and 14 rebounds for her eight double-double of the season.
Aaryn Pickett had a game-high 15 points for Sonoma State to lead three players in double figures for the Seawolves. Alli McDonald 14 points and Zane Sheckherd had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Raya Smith had eight points, two rebounds and three assists for the Golden Eagles, while
Nicole Flennaugh also had eight points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.
Iyanna Lamb had six points, all coming via a pair of big 3-pointers.
Cal State LA shot 32.8 percent for the game (21-of-64) and was 6-of-17 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line, including two free throws each from Buggs and Flennaugh to put the game away in the final seconds. Sonoma State shot 29.4 percent (15-of-51) and was 10-of-22 from 3-point range. The Seawolves were 12-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 36-33, but forced 22 turnovers while committing 15.Â
The game was an up-and-down affair that started with the Golden Eagles falling behind, 8-0, in the first three minutes of the game. Cal State LA responded impressively, with Buggs and Flennaugh leading the way. Buggs scored on a three straight layups and Flennaugh hit a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 9-8 lead. Cal State LA took a 17-11 lead after an 8-0 run that included two straight baskets from Johnson, a steal of an inbounds pass and layup by
Yesenia Smith and a layup by Buggs. Cal State LA settled for a 17-13 lead after one quarter.
Lamb hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter and give the Golden Eagles what would be their biggest lead of the game, 20-13. A 3-pointer by Buggs matched that seven-point lead, 26-19, with three minutes left in the second quarter, but the Seawolves closed the half with a 9-2 run to tie it at halftime, 28-28.
Both teams struggled mightily on offense in the third quarter, but tenacious defense kept the game close. Cal State LA was just 3-of-18 in the third quarter, while Sonoma State was just 2-of-11. The Golden Eagles scored the first five points of the third quarter on an offensive rebound basket by Johnson and a driving layup for a three-point play by Buggs to make it 33-28, but Cal State LA managed just four points the rest of the quarter and trailed, 38-37 entering the final period. Those four points -- a pair of free throws by Johnson and a layup by
Raya Smith -- stopped a 10-0 Sonoma State run and enabled the Golden Eagles to slice a five-point deficit to just a single point.
A 3-pointer by Lamb gave the Golden Eagles a 51-47 lead with three minutes to go, but Sonoma State scored the next five points and took a 52-51 lead on a 3-pointer by Sheckherd with 1:10 to go.
Johnson, though, quickly got the lead back for the Golden Eagles with a go-ahead basket off a beautiful pass by Smith with 52 seconds left. Buggs rebounded a missed layup with 29 seconds to go and, after three quick Sonoma State fouls, the Golden Eagles finally reached the bonus and Buggs hit a pair of free throws for a 55-52 lead. The Seawolves missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer on their next possession and Flennaugh got the rebound, was fouled, and hit both free throws for the final margin.
Cal State LA and Cal State East Bay will meet on Friday at noon in one of two women's semi-final games.
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