CARSON, California - A late surge handed the San Francisco State women's basketball team a loss in its CCAA opener on Thursday as they fell to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 97-92, in overtime.
 

By the Numbers

• Five Gators were in double figures, with Jolene Armendariz leading the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Madison Corder added a career-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Ashley Hart and Kelea Pickeral-Dennis each scored 13 and Taimane Lesa-Hardee added ten. 
• Pickeral-Dennis had 13 rebounds for her second double-digit rebound performance of the year. 
• SF State (0-4/0-1 CCAA) shot 43 percent from the floor, the second-best mark of the year, and held the Toros to a .347 clip which is tied for the lowest allowed by the Gators this season.

 

First Quarter

Lesa-Hardee drained a three to start the contest. The Toros responded with a 12-8 lead before a Giselle Mahinay jumper cut it to two. Dominguez Hills maintained a one-point cushion until Corder made a driving layup for the 19-18 lead. Gabrielle Leos hit a jumper with 32 seconds left in the first that put the hosts up 22-20 after one. 

Second Quarter

Destinee Williams hit a three to put the Toros up six, but Armendariz responded with a jumper off an assist from Hart. Hart would made one from the line to cut it to five, but Leos made a triple as Dominguez Hills now led 31-23. Corder added two more layups midway through the second,  and another Armendariz jumper made it a three-point game off a dish from Muirae Gomez, who added a jumper of her own that made it 39-35. Gomez would add a last-second layup as we went to halftime down, 42-37. 

Third Quarter

Three more points by the Toros started the second half. Consecutive buckets by Pickeral-Dennis sparked a 16-0 run featuring a Mahinay three and multiple Armendariz baskets as the Gators now led 59-50. Gomez made her third basket of the evening  for the 61-53 advantage, and the hosts would add another layup as we went to the fourth up 61-57 following a 24-15 third quarter. 

Fourth Quarter

Leos' three leveled it, 63-all to start the fourth. Tied up 75-75, Pickeral-Dennis made two from the line with 2:30 left and stole the inbound to regain the Gator possession. Armendariz made it count with jumper in the key for the four-point lead. Gabrielle Leos answered with a three, but Pickeral-Dennis responded with a jumper off a dish from Hart. A Toro jumper cut it it to 81-80 with 1:08 left. Armendariz continued her hot hand with her fourth basket in her last five attempts with a jumper with 45 seconds left as the Gators now led 83-80. With 11 seconds remaining, Desinee Williams hit a clutch three from the top of the arc to tie it up and force overtime. 

Overtime

Hart's free throw made it 85-84, but the Toros scored three to go up 88-84 with just under three left, and the hosts went up 92-84 following a 7-0 run. Samantha Erisman made the underneath layup with 36 seconds left. Armendariz added a three from the left side that cut it to three, 95-92 with 3.2 left, but SF State couldn't force the turnover to create a chance to tie it as the Toros escaped. 

 

Up Next

The Gators continue the road trip as they take on Cal State San Marcos this Saturday at 2 p.m. Live stats and a stream will be provided.