POMONA, Calif. - In an exhilarating showdown against the Cal State LA Golden Eagles, Kalaya Buggs stole the show, scoring an impressive 35 points this Saturday afternoon. Her clutch free throws in the final seconds of the game secured a thrilling 79-76 victory for the Broncos, improving their CCAA record to 9-4 and 13-5 overall. 

The game proved to be a shooting frenzy at the start, seeing both teams make five baskets in the first five minutes with CSULA holding a 12-11 lead. The first quarter remained closely contested, with the Golden Eagles maintaining a narrow one-point advantage at 21-20 heading into the second quarter.

The intensity persisted into the second quarter, with the Broncos encountering difficulties in scoring, managing only 11 points compared to the Golden Eagles' 15. Both teams had their lowest shooting quarter in the second, the Broncos shooting 30 percent and LA making 36 percent. As the halftime buzzer approached, Buggs found herself beyond the arc with just three seconds remaining, sinking a three-pointer and narrowing the halftime deficit to only five points, with the Broncos trailing 31-36. Buggs spearheaded the team's effort into halftime, contributing nine points, closely trailed by Sydney Nelson with eight and Mydrea Moore adding six points.

Despite making efforts to narrow the gap on numerous occasions in the third quarter, the Broncos struggled to secure a significant defensive stop while never letting the lead reach double digits. Buggs ignited the team's spirit with another three-pointer, but despite the offensive spark, they still found themselves trailing by nine points at 51-60 by the end of the quarter.

The fourth quarter was a remarkable turnaround for the Broncos, as they outscored CSULA 28-16 in the final 10 minutes. Buggs once again took control of the game, sinking a three to make the score 63-67 with 4:30 on the clock. Andrea Stajic's crucial block then set the stage for Buggs to hit another three just 20 seconds later, bringing the game to a one-point difference.

In the closing seconds, Buggs displayed composure, nailing two crucial free throws, securing the lead and repeating the feat with one second remaining. These last-second free throws helped the Broncos lock down a 79-76 victory. 

Buggs' impact was evident, shooting an impressive 70% from beyond the arc and maintaining a 66% shooting accuracy from the field. She also contributed five rebounds, four steals, and three assists.

Sydney Nelson added 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Andrea Stajic chipped in with eight points, nine rebounds, and a critical block. Skylar Dillion played an unsung hero role, contributing six points and six rebounds, with five offensive rebounds that set the Broncos up for success.

The last-second victory improved the Broncos' CCAA record to 9-4, and an overall record of 13-5. 


Up Next
The Broncos are gearing up for an away game this Thursday, February 1st, against the current leaders of the CCAA, Cal State San Marcos, at 5:30 pm. Having experienced a 45-63 loss in their previous matchup with the Cougars earlier this month, the Broncos are eager to turn the tables and build on their recent momentum. Catch all the action live on ccaanetwork.com.


Bronco Bits

• Kalaya Buggs' 35 points on Saturday is the second-most in a game in the entire CCAA this season.
• Buggs has set a new season-high for points scored by an individual player on the Broncos this season, while also setting a career high. 
• In the CCAA rankings, Buggs currently holds the second position for both free throw attempts and free throw percentage.
• Head Coach Danelle Bishop now has a 239-127 record and a win percentage of .653.