LA MIRADA, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino women's basketball team rallied from 20 points down to defeat Concordia University Irvine 74-72 in the season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Chase Gymnasium.

With the victory, the Coyotes open the season at 1-0.

The first quarter was all Golden Eagles, as they scored 30 points and ran their lead to as many as 20 points late in the period. 

The Yotes began their comeback effort in the second, outscoring CUI 21-12 to narrow the deficit to just eight points at 42-34 at the half. The Coyotes held CUI to just 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) shooting in the period, and sophomore Princess Cassell (Eastvale, Calif.) outpaced the Golden Eagles by herself, scoring 13 points.

A 6-0 run to end the third quarter saw the Yotes trim CUI's lead to just four entering the fourth. The bench scored 12 of CSUSB's 17 points in the quarter, led by six points from redshirt sophomore Jaushlynn Ruffin (Compton, Calif.). 

Lights out shooting in the fourth quarter helped CSUSB complete the comeback. The Coyotes shot 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) from the floor with 14 paint points to close it out. Ruffin and redshirt junior Riy Smith (Oceanside, Calif.) each posted six points in the quarter. The contest was clinched on a putback layup from junior Kendal Alloway (San Diego, Calif.), securing the win with 39 seconds to play.

Three Coyotes finished the game in double figures, led by Cassell with a career-high 18 points. Ruffin had 14 points off the bench, while Smith had 11 in her first game in a Coyote uniform.

The Coyotes will be back in action on Saturday, facing Biola to conclude the Conference Crossover. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m.

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