Toros Fall to No. 19-Ranked Cal State Bakersfield, 82-69
Long Beach native Natasha Gray leads Toros with 13 points
January 16, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills freshman Natasha Gray (Long Beach, CA/LB Poly) poured in a team-high 13 points to lead the Toros, but the No. 19-ranked Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners used a 41-25 second-half advantage and four players in double-figure scoring to stage a comeback victory Friday night at the Torodome, taking the contest 82-69.

CSUDH falls to 6-6, 2-5 CCAA, while CSUB improves to 10-2, 6-1 CCAA.

The Toros started strong against the 'Runners, jumping to a quick 12-6 lead, courtesy of six free throws, two each by Octavia Askew (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham HS), Lindsay Peloza (Alisa Viejo, CA/Saddleback JC) and Gray. CSUDH would continue to find the bottom of the net as Peloza found her stroke, connecting on three baskets in the first 20-minute frame to keep CSUB at arm's length, 16-9.

A three-pointer by Crystal Maciel (Los Angeles, CA/LACC) gave CSUDH its first double-digit lead of the half with 11:03 remaining, and a 19-15 run over the next seven minutes increased the Toro lead to 38-24 with just over four minutes left. CSUB would storm back, however, outscoring the Toros 17-6 the rest of the way, cutting CSUDH's lead to 44-41 entering intermission.

Cal State Bakersfield would continue to pressure the Toros after the break, taking their first lead of the contest at 45-44 on a jumper by Katie McElree with two minutes elapsed in the second half.

The 'Runners would build their lead to as much as 60-50 with 9:56 remaining in the contest, but a 14-5 Toro run, bolstered by five-consecutive Gray points, would cut CSUB's lead to 63-62 with 7:05 on the clock. CSUB, however, wouldn't panic, using four buckets by four different players over the next five minutes to keep the Toros at bay.

After a Zipporah Chase (Los Angeles, CA/Carson HS) free throw cut the 'Runner lead to 74-69, the visitors would score the final eight points of the contest, taking the game by an 82-69 count.

Peloza finished with 11 points while Monique Marquez (Rialto, CA/Eisenhower HS) contributed 10 points to pace the Toros. Chase garnered team-high rebounds with nine, also contributing nine points in the loss.

CSUB's Gillian Lillich led all scorers with 19 points, followed by Janelle Mack's 18 points and game-high 13 boards, the only player to achieve a double-double on the evening.

After intermission, the 'Runners held the Toros to 31% shooting from the field, while making 45% of their own shots in the 16-point second half advantage.

Cal State Dominguez Hills hosts the Cal State Stanislaus Warriors tomorrow night at the Torodome, with first tip beginning at 5:30 p.m.