Modesto JC drops hoop finales

ROCKLIN -- The Modesto Junior College women's basketball team find out about its playoff opener on Monday.

That gives the Pirates the weekend to take a breath after wrapping thier Big 8 Conference season with a 69-59 loss to host Sierra.

Lexy Posz scored 15 points and Madelyn Birchall 14 in the road loss. Modesto (17-11, 6-8 Big 8) trailed by 10 at halftime, but cut Sierra's lead to four points early in the second half.

Modesto couldn't quite get over the hump, but is one of the six Big 8 teams advancing to the playoffs. Sierra (21-7, 12-2 Big 8) shares the Big 8 title with Santa Rosa.

• CAL STATE LA 79, CSUS 59, at Turlock — Cal State Los Angeles shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half to turn a close game into a 20-point decision.

Cal State Stanislaus (2-22, 1-18 California Collegiate Athletic Association), which plays its home finale tonight, was led by Briana Cotton's 16 points, including four 3-pointers.

Cal State L.A. (16-10, 11-8 CCAA) used a 16-5 run to start the second half en route to a 16-point lead six minutes into the period.

Men's basketball

• CAL STATE LA 56, CSUS 50, at Turlock — Stanislaus lost the game at the line, with Cal State L.A. making 18 of 25 free throws, including 8 of 12 in the final two minutes to seal the game.

Both teams struggled from beyond the 3-point arc — Stanislaus made just 3 of 19 treys while the Golden Eagles were 2 of 16. Nick Hodge led the Warriors (9-14, 6-13 CCAA) with 12 points. Cal State L.A. (15-8, 12-7 CCAA) was led by Jordan Richard, who had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

• SIERRA 76, MJC 67, at Rocklin — Tashawn Mabry led the Pirates (12-16, 4-10 Big 8) with 20 points in their season ended. Modesto JC coach Paul Brogan said a cold second half was his team's downfall, but he was proud of the way his eight players finished the season. Sierra (19-8, 10-4 Big 8) was led by Jordan Ngatai's 16 points.

Baseball

• EAST BAY 5, CSUS 0, at Hayward — The Cal State Stanislaus offense was stifled in the opening game of the four-game set against Cal State East Bay. The Pioneers' Ben O'Bryan gave up just four hits in seven innings to lift East Bay (9-3, 2-3 CCAA). The Warriors (4-8, 1-4 CCAA) hope to find some offense today as the series shifts to Turlock for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Stanislaus has been shutout five times this season. Klayton Miller led the Warriors with a double.

Softball

• CSUS SPLITS, at San Bernardino — Brittani Weatherford and Kristan Burns homered as part of a 19-hit parade in Game 1, a 15-6 victory over host San Bernardino. Stanislaus (7-7, 2-4 CCAA) lost the nightcap 10-1.

Weatherford finished 3 for 4 with five runs batted in. Brianna Nicholson went 4-for-4, Cierrah Mullins was 3-for-4 and Burns finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Stanislaus charge.

In the nightcap, San Bernardino's Jamie Leffingwell hit two home runs and Monica Ferguson smacked one in a five-inning game.