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STOCKTON, Calif. - After the first quarter, the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Championships title game looked to be one that would go down to the wire. Top-seeded and 11th-ranked Fresno State changed all that in a hurry.

The Bulldogs used a 7-1 run and outscored second-seed and 13th-ranked San Diego State 9-3 in the middle quarters to lift them to a 14-10 victory in the title game in Stockton, Calif., on Saturday afternoon. The win gives the Bulldogs their first GCC tournament title in just their fourth year of competition (third full season) and gives them the GCC's automatic bid to the upcoming National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships.

Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring three times with a pair of assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Emily Nicholson led all scorers in the game with four and joined Schade on the All-Tournament Team. Teammate Callie Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game and also was All-Tournament for Fresno State (12-5).

San Diego State (8-14) was led by Emily Bennett with two goals and goalie Raquel de Pinho's nine saves. They were also both All-Tournament selections. For full All-Tournament Team, click here.

The teams traded goals to start the game and it was ll tied at 2-2 after Karli Canale tied it for San Diego State.

From the next 11 minutes it was all Fresno State. They scored three straight to take 6-2 lead on Nicholson's goal with 50 seconds remaining in the first half. Katie Ratcliff stopped the run for the Aztecs, making it 6-3 at the break. 

The Bulldogs came out of the break and scored four straight to take a 10-3 lead with 4:57 remaning in the third quarter on another Nicholson goal. From there San Diego State never got the lead below five as the Bulldogs claim the GCC title.

The NCAA tournament selection will take place on May 3 and Fresno State will learn their spot in the bracket.