HAYWARD, Calif. -  The Sonoma State women's basketball team fought their way back from an 11-point second half deficit but ultimately dropped a CCAA contest to Cal State East Bay 56-51.  The Seawolves used a 26-point third quarter to take a two-point advantage into the fourth before the Pioneers closed out the win. 
 
Sonoma State started fast with a 3-pointer by Chasity Spady and a basket plus a pair of free-throws from Jayme Blackard to lead 7-4 just two minutes into the contest.  CSUEB would take the lead into the second quarter, ending the first on a 6-2 run with the Seawolves only basket coming from Blackard. 
 
The Pioneers opened the second with three straight buts before Alli McDonald ended the run with a triple to make it 15-12.  The Seawolves would score just four more points in the quarter and headed to halftime trailing 24-16. 
 
The margin moved to as many as 11 early in the third before Sonoma State made their move.  McDonald hit back-to-back 3-pointers to quickly get the deficit down to four.  Later in the quarter, McDonald sank a pair of free-throws and Cielo Gonzalez knocked down a three of her own to make it a two-point game.  After the two teams traded baskets, Blackard made a layup to tie the game and Camille Johnson's bucket gave the Seawolves their first lead since early in the first quarter.  McDonald capped off her 12-point quarter with a pair of freebies as SSU took a 42-40 lead into the fourth. 
 
Cal State East Bay wasted little time getting back on top, scoring the first six points and eventually grew their advantage to seven with 3:58 remaining.  McDonald quickly answered with an offensive rebound and the basket plus a free-throw and Gonzalez followed with a 3-pointer to make it a 50-49 game.  After a three-point play by the Pioneers, Amanda Luckett scored for the Seawolves to make it a two-point game with just 25 ticks remaining.  Sonoma State got a chance to tie the game on the next possession but Gonzalez's 3-pointer was just off the mark and the Pioneers iced the game at the free-throw line. 
 
The Seawolves shot 27% for the game but made 17 of 22 from the charity stripe.  SSU made 5 of 9 shots in the third quarter and hit 13 of 16 from the line.  McDonald led all players with 18 points while adding seven rebounds.  Gonzalez tacked on 12 points and Luckett finished with a season high three blocks. 
 
Sonoma State heads down to Southern California for another CCAA contest against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.