LOS ANGELES – The Sonoma State women's basketball picked up a key conference victory on Thursday, toppling Cal State LA 69-65.  The Seawolves improved to 3-2 in CCAA play with the win while moving up to 4^th place in the standings. 
 
Both teams came out on fire offensively, trading buckets throughout the first quarter.  The Golden Eagles took a 13-9 run at the 4-minute mark before the Seawolves answered back with what would prove to be the turning point of the game.  Aaryn Pickett started a 9-0 Sonoma State run with a basket plus the foul before Amanda Luckett added two more baskets.  After a basket by LA broke the 9-0 run, Luckett and Alli McDonald ended the quarter with three free-throws to make it 21-15.
 
Chasity Spady and Pickett led the Seawolves offensively at the start of the second, combining for the first seven points as SSU led 28-20.  Cal State LA would chip that margin down to three and eventually Sonoma State would take a 34-30 lead into the break.
 
The Seawolves took over the game at the start of the third quarter, opening the period with a 14-1 run to push their advantage to 17 points.  Luckett scored six straight points during the run while Zane Sheckherd scored five of her own.  Sonoma State stretched the lead to as many as 18 before the Golden Eagles closed the quarter with a 14-5 run to cut the deficit to single digits.
 
SSU looked to have the game well in hand with the lead stretching to 12 with just over three minutes remaining.  However, LA had other ideas, ripping off an 11-0 run over the next two minutes to make it 66-65 with one-minute left.  The Seawolves buckled down defensively on the next possession, getting a key stop followed by a pair of clutch free-throws from Sheckherd.  Cal State LA had one final chance to tie the game but their shot missed wide to seal the win for Sonoma State. 
 
The Seawolves shot 46% from the field in the game with a season best 42 points from the bench unit.  SSU also held a 38-18 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Luckett turned in a career game with 21 points and six rebounds while hitting 10 of 13 shots from the field.  Sheckherd and Pickett tacked on ten points apiece with Sheckherd also adding eight points and five assists.  Cielo Gonzalez added eight points, five rounds and four steals. 
 
The Seawolves close out their road trip on Saturday with a game against Cal State San Marcos. Visit www.ccaanetwork.com to watch the game live.