SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino women's basketball team took down Chico State 78-73 in CCAA action Thursday evening at Coussoulis Arena.

With the win, the Coyotes improve to 8-10 overall on the season and 7-6 in CCAA play. The win is CSUSB's fifth consecutive victory.

The Yotes got out to a hot start in the first quarter, running out to a 10-point lead at 18-8 late in the period, but Chico State scored the quarter's final seven points to draw within three at 18-15. Graduate student Jaida Jackson (Moreno Valley, Calif.) led all players with nine first quarter points, while also assisting on three of the other four buckets made by the Yotes.

CSUSB narrowly outpaced Chico State in the second quarter at 23-22 to stretch their lead to 41-37 by halftime. Senior Deannah Buckner (Rialto, Calif.) hit all three of her three-point attempts in the quarter to lead all player with nine points, while Jackson capped the half with a buzzer-beating three from the logo to send her team to the locker room.

Chico trimmed Cal State San Bernardino's lead to just two with the lowest-scoring quarter of the evening, outscoring the Yotes 13-11 in the third. Buckner stayed hot in quarter three with a game-high six points as well as two steals as the Coyotes took a slim 52-50 lead to the fourth.

The fourth quarter was tight to the finish, but with the game tied at 68-68 and 57 seconds showing on the clock, graduate student Lauryn Morris (Irvine, Calif.) hit a clutch three to give the Yotes the lead for good. CSUSB went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe in the final minute as the Wildcats tried to cut into the lead, but a late Makenzi Laporte heave missed the mark and the Coyotes sealed the victory.

Jackson had a huge evening for the Coyotes, matching a career-high with 24 points to go along with five assists. Morris posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Buckner notched a season-best 17 points. Senior Mia Dufresne (Torrance, Calif.) had a big night on both ends of the floor for the Yotes, dropping 13 points with nine boards, two assists, and four blocks.

Next up for CSUSB, they'll look to extend their win streak to six when Cal Poly Humboldt comes to town on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
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