CARSON, Calif. - Trailing by as much as 13 points in the second half to Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay women's basketball came storming back to take a lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter. However, a 3-pointer for the Toros in the closing seconds forced overtime at 78-78. In the extra session, CSUDH took a lead 13 seconds into the extra session and didn't look back as the Pioneers lost overtime on Thursday, 88-83.  
 

In the first quarter, the Pioneers started the game on a 21-14 run capped by a Lailah Carey layup with 2:33 left in the quarter. The seven point lead was the largest of the ballgame for the Pioneers. The Toros finished the quarter on an 8-4 spurt, capped by a Kylie Gallick layup with two seconds left in the quarter cutting the deficit, as CSUEB led 25-22 after one quarter.
 
CSUDH took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Pioneers, 22-9, and took a 44-34 lead into halftime. 
 
While the Toros led my as much as 13 points in the third quarter, the comeback started for the Pioneers late in the quarter, as the deficit was trimmed to seven points, with CSUDH ahead 58-51 heading into the final quarter. 
 
After the Toros built their lead back up to 10 points in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers would go on a 23-12 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Payton Sterk to take a 74-73 lead with 39 seconds left. After Nala Williams made a pair of free throws to give the Toros the lead at 75-74 with 21 seconds left, Taylor Linzie would convert a layup to give the Pioneers a 76-75 lead with 18 seconds left. The Toros missed a jumper on their next possession, then Sterk hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Pioneers a three point lead, 78-75, with 10 seconds left.  Williams would hit the game-tying 3-pointer with two seconds left, tying the game at 78-78, forcing overtime.
 
CSUDH started the extra frame on a 6-0 run, capped by a jumper by Williams with 2:36 left, to take a 84-78 lead and did not look back. The Pioneers would come as close as two, at 84-82, on a 3-pointer by Brooke Donnelly with 1:58 left, but the Pioneers would get no closer, as the Toros won 88-83. 
 

• Payton Sterk led the Pioneers in scoring with 19 points, going 5-for-13 from the floor and 5-for-6 in free throws. Four of her five baskets were from beyond the arc. Through Thursday, she is averaging 18.4 points-per-game to lead the CCAA in scoring average. 
• Scoring 12 points each for CSUEB were Donnelly, Sierra Morris and Jaela Richardson. 
• Leading the Pioneers in rebounds with 13 on Thursday was Linzie. 
• Carey finished with a season-high eight assists. 
• Defensively, Linzie had three blocks and two steals. 
• Leading all scorers in the game was Williams, finishing with 42 points. 
• This season, the Pioneers have played an extra session five times, and are 3-2 in overtime games. 

Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin following Thursday's overtime loss:
"There is a lot of good to take into our next game after tonight. We gave a solid effort on both sides of the ball and put ourselves in position to start off our road trip right. It was unfortunate of the outcome but I'm proud of our team and hopefully we can play with the same effort and energy and get a road win on Saturday."
 

Cal State East Bay: 9-13, 7-9 CCAA
Cal State Dominguez Hills: 11-11, 8-8 CCAA
 

The final road game of the 2023-24 regular season for the Pioneers takes place this coming Saturday with a matchup at Cal State LA. Tipoff from University Gym in Los Angeles is set for 1 p.m. On January 11, the Pioneers defeated the Golden Eagles in overtime 73-72.