Showing Resilience Early On

Friday, November 4

Orange, Calif.

6:15 pm

California Baptist University

1-0

Simon Fraser

0-1

Simon Fraser

Cal Baptist

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

Showing Resilience Early On

11/4/2016 8:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

ORANGE, Calif. — In the first game of the season, No. 2-ranked California Baptist University had to face some adversity early. The Lancers battled to grab an 84-77 victory over Simon Fraser Friday night.

CBU opens the season 1-0, while the Clan drop to 0-1 to start the new year.

"We showed very good resiliency tonight," said Coach Jarrod Olson, who picked up his 100^th career win at CBU with the result. "Simon Fraser is a very good team and we were fortunate to win. Cass had a great game as usual. Kamille got us going to start the second half and Erin was awesome down the stretch. It was also great to see our bench come in and make such a big contribution."

Cassidy Mihalko led all scorers with 26 points (7-for-10). Kamille Diaz and Erin Asher (4-for-8) each followed with 15 points, while freshman Lexy Ram chipped in 10 points (4-for-5) in her collegiate debut.

Diaz led the Lancers with eight rebounds and dished out five assists on the night. Asher assisted a team-high six times, while Tori Mitchell snagged six boards for CBU.

Courtney Nelson scored the first points of the game, but CBU soon found itself trailing, 15-10. The Lancers responded with an 8-0 run, however, to take back their lead. Mihalko knocked down two free throws to get the spurt going and Kristine Sellona capped it with a layup off a Diaz steal.

SFU battled back and brought the score within one possession, 21-19, but Emma Meriggioli started CBU back on another streak of scoring off a fast-break layup. Ram followed with a shot from the perimeter, before Asher banked in a shot to force a Clan timeout, 28-19.

The Clan took advantage of some CBU mistakes in the final five minutes of the second quarter to walk into halftime with a two-point cushion, 37-35.

Coming out of the break, the Lancers were determined to clean things up and take control of the game once and for all. It didn't come easy, though, as SFU built up a seven-point lead to start the third period, 46-39.

The Lancers grabbed back their lead after Mihalko made two shots from the free throw line to jump in front 60-59 heading into the final quarter.

Meriggioli drew a foul as she drove to the basket and completed the and-one to tie the game 63-63. Mihalko followed by stealing the ball away from the Clan and banking in her uncontested layup to put the Lancers back in front 65-63 with seven minutes to play.

SFU battled back and took the lead, 73-70. Mitchell prevented the Clan from making it a multi-possession lead, forcing a turnover, leading to an Asher three from the corner pocket to tie the game, 73-73.

It was back-and-forth in the final two minutes, coming down to the final minute. Asher gave CBU some cushion, 80-77, after finding a seam in the Clan defense. Ram extended it by posting up under the basket, 82-77.

The Clan tried to foul back into the game, but Mihalko sank both chances from the charity stripe to seal the 84-77 victory.

CBU continues the NCAA Division II Tipoff Challenge tomorrow afternoon, facing No. 3-ranked West Texas A&M at 1:30 p.m. The tournament concludes on Nov. 6 with the Lancers' 8:30 p.m. tip against the University of Mary.