Unstoppable

Thursday, February 23

Irvine, Calif.

5:30 PM

California Baptist University

27-2,18-0PacWest

121

Concordia (CA)

10-15,8-11PacWes

Cal Baptist

121

Concordia (Irvine)

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

2/23/2017 7:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

IRVINE, Calif. — No. 4-ranked California Baptist University already owned a share of the PacWest Conference Championship going into Thursday night's contest, but the Lancers weren't in a sharing mood.

Not only did they claim the title outright with a 121-74 win over Concordia University of Irvine, the Lancers also set a single-game record with 20 three-pointers, and came close to tying several other records, including most points scored (124), most assists (36) and most field goals made (51). It was the second time this season CBU set a new single-game record for most three-pointer made after it drained 16 against BYU-Hawaii on Feb. 4.

The Lancers continue on their program-best unbeaten streak with their 25^th-straight win, improving to 28-2 overall and 19-0 in the PacWest. CBU has the chance to become the first PacWest team to finish with a perfect 20-0 record in conference with one more league game left on the docket.

Courtney Nelson led five Lancers in double figures with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Kamille Diaz – who didn't miss a single shot in the first half – finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points (8-for-11) and dishing out 10 assists. Cassidy Mihalko (7-for-11) and Emma Meriggioli (6-for-9) each chipped in 16 points, while Lexy Ram (5-for-9) added 13 points.

As a team, the Lancers were three points away from tying the program record, set back on Feb. 27, 1988. It may not have been a school record, but it was definitely a program best under Coach Jarrod Olson. CBU also finished with 33 assists and 49 made field goals.

"One word that describes this team is 'unselfish' and that really showed tonight," said Diaz, who isn't quite ready to celebrate her team's title. "We still have one more game to play and it's going to be a tough game with Point Loma on the opposite side, but we just need to focus on that game. Then we can worry about celebrating winning the conference."

Off the glass, Tori Mitchell fished with 10 boards to help the Lancers out-rebound the Eagles 49-to-31.

CBU created some distance early on, taking its first double-digit lead of the night with three minutes left in the first quarter. CUI had pulled within four, 18-14, but Meriggioli sparked an 8-0 run to put her team up 26-14. Diaz and Erin Asher assisted each other's three-pointers during that span.

It gave the Lancers a 35-18 cushion heading into the second quarter, but the Eagles fought back. Concordia chipped away at the margin, cutting it to eight points, 35-27, to force a CBU timeout.

The Lancers came out of the regrouping on fire, extending their lead to 51-30 before Concordia called a timeout to catch its breath. After Olivia Weber knocked down two free throws, Diaz forced a turnover and drained a deep three-pointer.

It started a chain reaction as CBU hit five-consecutive triples, along with a Mihalko layup, to explode out to a 59-30 lead before the Eagles could take advantage of an offensive possession.

CBU finished the half shooting an astounding 13-for-19 from the perimeter, including a 72.7-percent (8-for-11) in the second quarter alone.

The Lancers didn't slow down from there, inching closer and closer to the three-point record. Nelson drained a triple to tie the record, before Meriggioli followed with a three-pointer from the right side to make history once again for CBU.

With just under a minute left in the third, the Lancers looked like they might take a 50-point upper hand as Weber laid in a pass from Asher, 102-54.

The 50-point lead seemed to be inevitable, however, as Kristine Sellona found nothing-but-net from the perimeter to put CBU in front 114-64.

Despite pulling within three points of the program record, the Lancers couldn't quite seem to tie the tally and settled for the 121-74 victory.

CBU closes out the regular season at home on Saturday, hosting Point Loma for a 5:00 p.m. tip off. It's also the Last Time in Van Dyne for the Lancers as their new home, the CBU Events Center, is scheduled to open this spring.