HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day in Hayward with a tough, 85-69 loss to the visiting Cal State San Marcos Cougars Saturday afternoon inside Pioneer Gymnasium.
 
East Bay only led for 12 seconds in the ballgame as they move to 16-10 overall on the season with a 12-8 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. CSUEB is currently in the fourth spot in league standings and have already clinched a berth in the CCAA playoffs headed into the final weekend of the regular season.
 
Prior to the game, Cal State East Bay honored 2019-20 seniors: Kayley Hsiung, Kincso Kelemen, Regina Sankey and Blaysen Varnadoe with a brief ceremony. All four have played pivotal roles for the Pioneers the season.
 
Sankey finished with a team-high 24 points, one shy of her career best mark, on 9-for-16 shooting from the field including a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. The San Jose native, notched her first double-double of the season as she grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds to go along with three assists and a steal.  
 
Because of Sankey's play in 27 reserve minutes the Pioneers outscored the Cougars, 47-21 in bench points. She had help from fellow senior Blaysen Varnadoe who chipped in a season-high nine points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field. Varnadoe converted her lone three-point attempt while grabbing a rebound and dishing an assist. Celeste Almendarez added 10 points, three assists and two rebounds in 23 minutes off the pine.
 
San Marcos had the hot hand from the opening tip as they shot a season-best 61 percent from from the field, including 44.4 percent from three-point range and 89.3 percent from the foul line.
 
The Pioneers finished the game shooting 42.4 percent from the floor as they outrebounded the Cougars 25-19 for the contest. East Bay tallied 22 points on 16 forced turnovers from San Marcos but CSUSM outscored the CSUEB 40-34 on points inside the painted area.
 
Kincso Kelemen compiled seven points on 2-for-4 shooting from the floor with one three-pointer made and Kayley Hsiung notched five points in 29 minutes.
 
The Pioneers will wrap up the regular season with a pair of critical road match ups against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino.