SAN FRANCISCO – A huge fourth quarter run by visiting Cal State East Bay proved to be the difference as the SF State women's basketball team fell to the Pioneers 70-39 Friday night at The Swamp at the Don Nasser Family Plaza.

SF State (4-12/2-8 CCAA) shot well in the first half, going 10-for-26 from the field for a 38.5 field goal percentage.  Unfortunately, the Gators' good looks would not go down in the second half, where they shot just 19 percent from the floor, going 4-for-21.

The Pioneers (14-4/8-2 CCAA) responded by shooting 41.4 percent from the floor in the game, going 24-for-58, they were especially dangerous from deep, going 8-for-19 from 3-point range, 6-for-10 in the second half.

The Gators had six players scoring five or more points, but no one finished the evening double figures.  Brittaney Allison led the Gators with nine points, going 2-for-4 from the field, including 2-for-2 from three point range.  She was also a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.

Kiara Ginwright was second on the team with another all-around solid effort, she scored eight while blocking four shots and grabbing four rebounds.  Laura Lawson was stellar on the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with her six points.

The Pioneers had four players score in double figures, with Shannon Bland scoring a game-high 16 points.

In the opening quarter a pair of gritty buckets by Kayla Watterson kept the Gators afloat as they struggled to find their range early.  The Pioneers closed out the first quarter on a 12-0 run over the final four minutes to take a 16-7 lead into the second quarter.

In the second period the Pioneers kept up the pressure, going up by as much as 13 with 9:06 in the second quarter. A 3-point bucket by Allison with six minutes on the clock got the Gators offense into gear.  SF State finished the second quarter on a 17-6 run to go into the break trailing 26-24.  Ginwright was a force down the stretch, scoring six points, while blocking a pair of shots and grabbing two rebounds.

The third quarter did not start favorably for SF State.  In the Gators first nine possessions they could muster just eight field goal attempts, making two.  The Pioneers on the other hand, got hot from beyond the arc, to go up 42-30 with 2:26 left in the period.  In the end, the Gators were able to keep it close, finishing the third trialing by just eight points, 43-35. 

In the fourth quarter the Pioneers scored early and often.  CSUEB went on a 20-2 run in the first 6:40 of the final period.  The Gators were 1-for-5 from the floor during that stretch, their lone bucket coming on a 10 foot jump shot from the baseline by Ginwright.  The Pioneers went 7-for-12 from the field during that stretch, including 3-for-5 from beyond the three point line.  The Pioneer's Madison Craig led the CSUEB with 10 points during that explosive fourth quarter.

SF State returns to action tomorrow evening when they host Cal State Monterey Bay.  Tip-off for that game is slated for 5:30 p.m.  

Complete Box Score (HTML)

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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.

Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments.  For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.