After tipping off their season yesterday in the CCAA/PacWest Challenge, the Eagles took the court again on Friday.  Against the Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles, CUI got off to a slow start, but picked it up in the second quarter and found themselves in a nail-biter down the stretch.

Midway through the first quarter, CSULA turned an early four point deficit into a nine point lead.  The Golden Eagles went on a 13-0 run.  After Mickaela VanderKlugt knocked in a three with 15 seconds left in the quarter to end the run, the score at the end of one was CSULA 17, CUI 11.

In the second quarter, the script was flipped.  Kennedy Fulcher began the second quarter scoring two, Katie Timmerman made a layup, and then Tiana Lowery knocked in two free throws to tie the score at 17.  The rest of the second quarter was back and forth.  CUI took a lead on a Riley Friaf free throw and the game continued to swing back and forth.  There were four lead changes in the second quarter alone, and after CSULA guard Chiderah Uzowuru knocked in a jumper in the final seconds of the half, the score was tied, 33-33.  At halftime, Vanderklugt led the Eagles with 14 points.

VanderKlugt continued her brilliant play in the second half, and the game remained close until the end.  Throughout the third quarter, CSULA continued to make plays offensively, taking the lead and then seeing the Eagles answer right back to tie it up with a score of their own.  At the end of three, the game was still tied, 47-47.

The two teams were evenly matched, but one team had to prevail.  Early in the fourth quarter, CSULA went on a 5-0 run to take a two possession lead, but the Eagles didn't go down easy.  They responded with six straight of their own, four points scored by VanderKlugt and two by Friauf.  With the Eagles up 55-54 with under three minutes to play, they were in a position to win their first game of the season, but it wasn't going to be easy.  CSULA re-took the lead with two free throws and then extended their lead to three on a layup with 1:21 remaining.  Friauf knocked in a free throw to bring the score to 58-56, but two clutch free throws by CSULA guard Jo Ana Adams extended the lead to four.  VanderKlugt came right back with a jump shot of her own to cut the lead back to two with :44 remaining, but the Eagles struggled to stop CSULA down the stretch.  Despite more clutching shooting by VanderKlugt in the final minute, it wasn't enough as CSULA continually went to the free throw line and knocked in their free throws.  Final score: CSULA 65, CUI 62.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, VanderKlugt and Fulcher were impressive in defeat.  VanderKlugt finished with a game-high 27 points and knocked in four three pointers.  Fulcher scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. 

The Eagles return to the court on Nov. 15 at 5:30 pm against Cal State San Marcos.  The game will be played at CU Arena and is the Eagles home opener.