SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino women's basketball team opened 2025 by prevailing in a 93-88 triple overtime thriller over Cal State Los Angeles Thursday evening in California Collegiate Athletic Association action at Coussoulis Arena.

With the win, CSUSB improves to 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the CCAA.

CSUSB had a narrow 15-13 advantage at the end of one quarter, thanks to a strong performance from the senior guard Deannah Buckner (Rialto, Calif.). She was 3-of-5 from the floor and drilled her lone three-point attempt to lead all players with eight first quarter points.

Just under three minutes into the second quarter, the Yotes opened up their largest lead of the half at 23-16 on a Jaida Jackson (Moreno Valley, Calif.) layup, but Cal State LA stormed back to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room. CSUSB had a balanced scoring attack in the quarter, with graduate student Lauryn Morris (Irvine, Calif.) leading the way with four points.

The Coyotes struggled from the floor in the first half, shooting just 8-for-30 (26.7 percent) from the field and 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) from distance, but made up for their shooting woes by going 13-of-14 (92.9 percent) from the charity stripe.

CSUSB took a five-point lead at 48-43 into the fourth and final quarter after holding the Golden Eagles to 26.7 percent field goal shooting and just three buckets in the third. A pair of three-pointers from Tarryn Ross (Garden Grove, Calif.) helped the graduate student lead all players with six points in the quarter.

The Coyotes ran out to their largest lead with just over six minutes to play at 58-46, but Cal State Los Angeles chiseled away at the lead right to the end, hitting a game-tying triple with .2 seconds on the clock to force overtime at 67-67.

CSUSB never led in the first overtime period, but with her team trailing by three, junior Rebecca Saidoff (West Hills, Calif.) came off the bench and drilled a clutch triple with 2.0 seconds to play, sending the game to a second extra session.

The Coyotes again relied on a late bucket to force an additional overtime, with Morris serving as the hero in double overtime. The graduate student hit a floater in the lane with 4.4 seconds left, and a Cal State LA heave missed the mark to send the game to overtime number three.

Cal State San Bernardino clinched the lengthy victory with a stellar defensive showing. The Coyotes held Cal State LA to just 1-of-13 shooting (7.7 percent), while hitting 3-of-6 (50 percent) to close out the win.

Morris led the Yotes with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double in the victory, while Jackson and Buckner each poured in 16 points. Ross rounded out the Coyotes in double figures with 15 points.

Next up for the Yotes, they will return to action at home on Saturday, taking on #5 Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tip-off from Coussoulis Arena is slated for 1 p.m.