Playing with a lot of heart — and a possible tournament berth — the Cal State Stanislaus women's basketball team battled in overtime for the second night and came away with a 70-68 victory at Cal State Dominguez Hills in the season finale.
Alishea Kelly turned in her second double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Warriors finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak and improved to 10-16 overall and 9-13 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Christin Gowan added 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Stanislaus win, mixed in with a win by Sonoma State and a loss by Cal State San Bernardino, created a four-way tie for seventh place in the CCAA standings. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they were eliminated from the tournament based on head-to-head records against tied teams.
Friday night, in the regular season finale inside the Torodome, the Warriors and the Toros were in a see-saw battle for the entire game. CSUDH's biggest lead was eight early in the first half.
The Toros took a two-point lead on a pair of Kala Amico free throws with 36 seconds left to play, but Gowan made a nice move and drove to the basket with a layup to tie the score with 13 ticks remaining.
In overtime, a Kelly bucket and a Nathalie Olveda layup gave the Warriors a four-point lead for good with 90 seconds left as the Warriors held on to win.
The Warriors were again in foul trouble on the night, similar to Thursday night's game at Cal State L.A. The Toros were on the line often and made 28 of 34 free throw attempts. CSUS was 12-for-20.
Busi, who had four fouls, finished with six points and 10 rebounds. Olveda chipped in 10 points.
Whitney Gantt led CSUDH with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
The Warriors' current five-game winning streak was the longest conference win-streak since the 2002-03 season, head coach Sharon Turner's first season. The Warriors finished tied for second in the CCAA and advanced to the NCAA tournament that season.
Toros down Stanislaus in season finale
Jordan Stokes and Chad Johnson both scored 17 points in their final collegiate game, but the Cal State Stanislaus men's basketball team lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 74-69, Friday night.
The Warriors finish the year 10-17 overall and 6-16 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association under first year head coach Larry Reynolds.
Tim McGrath had 17 points to lead the Toros as they improved to 16-11 and 16-6 in the CCAA. CSUDH will be the No. 4 seed in the upcoming conference tournament starting on Tuesday.
The Warriors got out to an early first half lead and led 36-31 at the break thanks to six three-pointers. The Warriors would finish with a season-high 12 three-pointers, three by Johnson.
Cal State Stanislaus would led by seven early in the second half but Dominguez Hills put on a charge and took over on a Tim McLaurin three-pointer five minutes in.
Amir Aguilar had 10 points and 13 rebounds and McLaurin finished with 10 points.
For the Warriors, Stokes also had eight rebounds, Matt Ibewiro netted six points and pulled nine rebounds. Marcus Lever had nine points and Dwight Jones chipped in eight.
Cockerill earns CCAA honors
Cal State Stanislaus' J.T. Cockerill has been named California Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Golfer of the Week for the week of Feb. 21-28, it was announced on Wednesday.
Cockerill, a junior from Carson City, Nev., led the Warriors to the team title at the Cal State Bakersfield Elco Invitational that was held on Monday and Tuesday. Cockerill carded rounds of 71-67-76 for a 214 total to finish in a tie for second place.
A late addition to the Cal State Stanislaus travel roster, Cockerill made the most of his opportunity and was the co-leader after 36 holes with a 6-under par score of 138.
The Warriors will play in the Coyote Invitational in San Bernardino on Monday and Tuesday.
Warriors get big game from freshman pitcher
Freshman hurler Brittani Weatherford pitched a gem to earn her first collegiate victory as the Warriors picked up a doubleheader split at Notre Dame de Namur on Thursday.
Weatherford allowed just two hits in the non-conference twinbill opener and struck out seven in the complete game victory as the Warriors (2-11-1) beat the Argonauts 3-0. In the nightcap, NDNU (3-7) scored six runs in the seventh to win 7-4.
