SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino women's basketball saw its run in the CCAA Tournament come to a close on Thursday evening, falling to Sonoma State 78-71 in the conference quarterfinal at the Sports Center on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.

With the defeat, CSUSB moves to 16-12 overall on the season.

The Coyotes got off to a strong start in quarter number one, outscoring the Seawolves 9-2 before the first media timeout thanks to six points from senior Mia Dufresne (Torrance, Calif.) and a three-pointer from graduate student Tarryn Ross (Garden Grove, Calif.). The Yotes went over five and a half minutes without a bucket until late in the quarter, but then scored nine points in the final two minutes of the quarter to take an 18-11 lead after one. Graduate student Jaida Jackson (Moreno Valley, Calif.) hit a driving layup as time expired to cap the period for the Yotes.

CSUSB led by as many as nine in the early stages of the second quarter, but Sonoma State stormed back to take their first lead of the game in the final minute. Jackson put an end to a 10-0 Sonoma run in the waning seconds of the half when she hit a pull up jumper, sending her team to the locker room trailing by a point at 30-29.

Freshman Princess Cassell (Eastvale, Calif.) led all players with eight points in the first half, as she hit two of CSUSB's three triples in the half. Jackson and Dufresne each finished the first half with six points as well.

Sonoma State opened up a nine-point lead midway through the third quarter at 50-41, but the Coyotes answered with a 7-0 run to draw within two. A corner three in the final minute of the quarter gave the Seawolves a 53-48 edge at the end of three. Dufresne contributed eight points in the third for CSUSB.

The Coyotes could not close the gap in the final quarter, as Sonoma answered each of CSUSB's runs with a clutch shot of their own. The Yotes got to within a possession on multiple occasions, but could not get over the top. CSUSB mounted a big surge late to get to within one on a Ross three with 34 seconds remaining, but the Seawolves sealed the win by knocking down 8-of-8 free throws in the final 30 seconds.

Dufresne and Jackson each led the way with 18 points apiece, while Cassell wrapped up the contest in double figures with 10 points.