Box Score: Coyotes 61, No. 24 Chico State 56

SAN BERNARDINO -- An opportunistic defense paved the way for Cal State San Bernardino in its 61-56 upset win over No. 24 Chico State on Friday night.

The Coyotes, now 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the CCAA, outscored the visiting Wildcats 19-4 off turnovers and senior Sabrina Gonzalez scored a game-high 17 points and fellow senior Eisha Sheppard played a complete game with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 37 minutes of work.

The victory was CSUSB's first over the Wildcats in four meetings and positioned the Coyotes into second place in the conference along with Cal Poly Pomona. CSU Monterey Bay is alone at the the top at 9-0 in conference play.

The Coyotes trailed only once and took advantage by forcing 14 Chico State turnovers. The other big difference was the battle on the boards as CSUSB had 20 offensive rebounds to only seven for the Wildcats.

That explans the 13 more possessions for the Coyotes and why they had 17 more field goal attempts than their foe.

The difference in the game occurred early in the second half. Leading 30-28 at halftime, the Coyotes took control beginning at the 16:47 mark. After Chico State's Pauline Ferrall hit a layup that cut CSUSB's lead at 35-32, the Coyotes mustered a critical 8-0 run that began on junior Amber Glasser's three-pointer.

Senior Danielle Shows added a layup after Sheppard forced a turnover and senior Sierra Chess added a free throw and CSUSB led 41-32 with 14:10 left.

Then Sheppard finished the run on a layup and the Coyotes owned an 11-point lead that kept them out front.

But Chico State hung in there and moved to within a possession of a tie on Jazmine Miller's 3-point play that cut the Coyotes' lead to 46-44 with 7:10 left.

Gonzales answered with  a pair of free throws and a layup and Sheppard added a jumper and the Coyotes led 52-44 with 6:26 left.

Chico State didn't go away and it drew within two points on three separate occasions in the final 2:12, only to see CSUSB cling to the lead.

Sheppard and Glasser combined to hit three free throws in the final 25 seconds and the Coyotes earned the hard-fought win.

Glasser finished with 13 for CSUSU with six rebounds. Shows had nine points with seven rebounds and also contributed four assists.

Chico State was led by Courtney Harrison's 13 points.