The SF State women’s basketball team went inside early and often in their 75-63 win over the Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles on Dec. 2.

With Chloe Grimm playing in her second consecutive game after missing the first four because of injury, the Gators consistently fed the ball in to the post and Grimm’s performance opened the floor for her teammates.

The Gators shot 45.9 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free-throw line, well above their season averages of 29 percent from the field and 58 percent from the free-throw line, leading up to the game.

“It’s very important for Chloe to get off early because she contributes on the offensive and defensive end. She’s our security blanket because her presence inside allows us to run our offense,” SF State head coach Joaquin Wallace said. “An inside presence is important in the triangle offense. When Chloe is scoring it opens up the floor for Brio to shoot, and it opens up lanes for slashers.”

Grimm got going midway through the first half, scoring eight consecutive points for the Gators, sparking a 14-0 run as they took the lead 27-20. Grimm finished the half with 14 points and had 22 on the game.

“It helps with Chloe inside because I know I can move off the ball with her. An inside player is another way to get into the flow of the game,” Brio Rode, junior forward, said.

Rode warmed up in the second half shooting four of 10 from the field including two of four from the three-point line. Rode led the Gators in scoring the second half with 13 points and finished the game with 17.

Rode made a buzzer beater, grabbing a rebound and getting a put-back with a defender draped all over her to give the Gators a 41-32 lead at the half. She then came out hot to start the second half, scoring eight of the first 13 Gator points.

On one of the baskets, Rode received a pass from Grimm on a back-cut, and made an up-and-under move to give the Gators a 54-38 lead, their largest of the game.

Two freshmen, Zalisha Oliver and Jessica Hout-Freeman, played solid games on both ends of the court and contributed to the Gator win.

On offense, Oliver scored 17 points, shooting seven of eight from the field and three of three from the free-throw line.

“Once they went in it was a confidence booster. You keep attacking if they’re going in,” Oliver said.

Defensively, Oliver held the Golden Eagles third leading scorer Shayna Stanley under her season average. Oliver finished with five rebounds and two steals for the Eagles.

Hout-Freeman finished the game with eight assists, and four turnovers in 38 minutes, which is a two-to-one ratio in Hout-Freeman’s second game ever playing point guard.

“I’m trying my best and working hard, running the team and directing traffic, which is the job of the point guard,” Hout-Freeman said. “The number one thing I have to work on is being patient. If you rush the offense it causes turnovers and takes the offense out of flow. You have to slow things down, let the offense set-up, let players get into position, and let the offense come naturally, you can’t force it.”

On defense, Hout-Freeman tied three other Gators with two steals. She is second on the team in steals averaging 2.5 per game.

Coach Wallace said the victory was huge because it’s important with a young team that they see results, so they don’t lose their confidence.

“Chloe was the missing factor,” Wallace said.