BOX SCORE

LOS ANGELES — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team needed a pair of miracles to reach the first triple overtime in program history. But it couldn't make the free throws it needed in extra time as Cal State L.A. hung on for a 72-68 win Saturday night in The Eagles' Nest.

Just getting to the first overtime seemed an implausible task as CSUMB (6-2, 3-2 CCAA) trailed 45-42 after a pair of Tessondra Williams free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining. But the Otters quickly worked the ball up to Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) who dropped a 30-foot bomb on the Golden Eagles at the buzzer to send the game to the first overtime.

But that's where CSUMB inexplicably forgot how to shoot free throws. After going 12-for-15 from the line in regulation, the Otters were a miserable 5-for-14 from the line in the three overtime periods.

CSUMB's inability to make its freebies actually set up the dramatic finish to the first overtime. Trailing 53-51, Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC) went to the line with a chance to tie with two seconds remaining. Jefferson missed both free throws, but Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) won the fight for the rebound and laid it in at the buzzer to force the second overtime.

OT number two seemed like it would belong to the Otters when Ashley Morgan (Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa CC) knocked down a three to give the Otters a 61-57 lead with 2:21 remaining.

The Golden Eagles responded with six unanswered points to go back ahead 63-61 inside the final minute. This time, sophomore guard Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) played the hero, taking the ball coast to coast with 24 seconds left to score the layup that forced overtime No. 3 at 63-63.

But that's when the clock struck midnight on the Otters. Fontenette missed three consecutive free throws with a chance to give the Otters the lead inside the final minute. She made a fourth to tie things up at 68-68 before Kelli Lewis hit a jumper to put L.A. back on top, 70-68.

CSUMB quickly turned the ball over on its next possession then waited 20 seconds before finally fouling Williams with just 12 seconds on the clock. Williams made both free throws to seal the game.

The Otters actually appeared to take control of the game early in the second half, opening their biggest lead at 27-16 three minutes after the restart. But shooting 2-for-17 from beyond the arc before Corgel's buzzer-beater ended regulation prevented them from putting the Golden Eagles away.

Ten of the 11 Otters who saw action scored Saturday, led by a season-high 13-point effort from Fontenette. Jefferson chipped in 10 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for her second double-double.

Williams led L.A. (9-4, 4-2) with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

CSUMB finally returns to The Kelp Bed for its first home conference game of the season Friday, Jan. 11, when it hosts Cal Poly Pomona for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.