SEASIDE, Calif. — Entering Friday night's CCAA opener against Cal State L.A., the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team hadn't played a game in three weeks. The rust showed as the Otters fell behind early and couldn't get over the hump in a 72–62 loss in The Kelp Bed.

The win snapped CSUMB's season–opening 3–game winning streak, dropping the Otters to 3–1 and 0–1 in the CCAA. Cal State L.A. improved to 4–1 and 2–0.

CSUMB was cold from the floor (30.3 percent) and a bit too casual with ball security (allowing 18 points off turnovers) in the first half as the Golden Eagles built a 40–29 lead at intermission. The L.A. lead grew to as many as 17 points (59–42) in the second half before the Otters found their sea legs.

The Otters needed just 2:34 to trim that 17–point deficit to four, thanks to a 13–2 run keyed by a pair of Ashley Morgan (Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa CC) 3–pointers and five points from Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS). The Otters had two chances to pull closer but couldn't as L.A. went 6–for–6 from the line in the final minute to thwart the comeback effort.

Angelique Bailey (Fontana/Etiwanda HS) led CSUMB with a career–high 16 points and four assists. Morgan matched her career–high with 14 points and added a career–high three steals.

Paige Melville led three Golden Eagles in double figures with a game–high 19 points.

CSUMB returns to the court Saturday night to host Cal State Dominguez Hills at 5:30 p.m.

GO OTTERS!