RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The women's basketball team wrapped up its regular season last night as they took on La Sierra.

Coming into the night, the women's team had its destiny sealed as they are expected a rematch with La Sierra as the #1 seed UC Merced is set to take on #4 Westcliff in the Cal Pac tournament. 

The first points for the Red Hawks belonged to a Zara Dumatol layup before the Golden Eagles grabbed the lead. 

Simpson regained the lead in the second quarter as Dumatol drilled a three-pointer to give Simpson the 12-11 lead. 

The Red Hawks reeled off six straight points on six made free throws by Nikki Thompson, Deja Ortiz, Dumatol, and Marshall to grow Simpson's largest lead of the first half to seven points as they led 27-20. 

But the Eagles scored the final three points of the half to cut the Red Hawks first-half lead to 27-23 going into the half. 

Simpson came out rolling in the second half on a bucket by Nguyen followed by back-to-back three-pointers by Dumatol and Thompson to grow Simpson's largest lead of the night to 10 points. 

However, the Golden Eagles flipped the script and went on a 23-7 run to close out the third quarter to take the 48-42 lead. 

La Sierra never looked back as they outscored Simpson 21-12 in the fourth quarter to take the 69-54 victory.

Thompson notched a team-high 19 points while Nguyen posted a double-double with a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with 10 points. 

Simpson ended 14-9 overall and 7-3 in conference play as they qualified for the postseason under first-year Head Coach Anthony Taylor.

The women's team looks to take on #2 seed La Sierra in the Cal Pac tournament in the first semifinal game at 12:30 pm this coming Friday. 
 

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