2004-11-23 CSUDH
11/23/2004 9:34:56 PM | Women's Basketball
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BEATS CS DOMINGUEZ HILLS
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004) – Junior forward Lindsay Castle had game highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds and scored several key second-half baskets to lead the California Baptist University women’s basketball team to an 80-71 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in a non-conference game at Van Dyne Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.
The Lancers improved to 4-0 for only the second time in the last 22 years. The Toros dropped to 0-2. It’s only the fourth time in 17 meetings that CBU has beaten CSUDH.
Castle (Mohave Valley, AZ/River Valley HS) was 5-for-6 from the field and 10-for-13 from the foul line with four assists and four steals. With CBU holding a 65-63 lead with under six minutes to play, she connected on a pair of three-point plays less than a minute apart, each time driving to the basket, making the shot and drawing a foul. She later sank a free throw to put CBU ahead 72-65 with four minutes to go.
“Lindsay played one of the best games that I’ve witnessed in a long time tonight,” CBU Coach Steve Sain said. “She played a great all-around game, especially in the key getting rebounds against girls who are a lot taller than her. Defensively, we played solid as a team. We showed a lot of confidence down the stretch and we feel good about how we’re playing late in games.”
The Toros got back to within three points at 72-69 with less than three minutes to play after baskets by freshman center Alana Bailey and senior guard Karen Shirley. To make matters worse for the Lancers, Castle went out of the game briefly with an arm injury.
But Castle’s replacement, junior forward Kristen Thoms (Oakland, CA/Berean Christian HS) came in and made a lay-up and a three-pointer, pushing CBU’s lead back up to 77-69 with under a minute to play.
“Kristen came in and showed a lot of composure, hitting some big baskets,” Sain said.
Other Lancers in double-figures included 16 points by sophomore guard Jessica Mendezona (Redding, CA/Enterprise HS), 14 points by senior guard Tera Cruz (Long Beach, CA/Narbonne HS) and 10 points by freshman center Vanessa Wilt (Hesperia, CA/Sultana HS).
The Toros got a team-high 19 points from Bailey and 18 points from junior guard Tameka Blue.
The game was tied at halftime, 35-35, but the Lancers outscored the Toros 45-36 in the second half. CBU shot 52.0% from the field compared to CSUDH’s 37.5%.
The CBU women next travel to Oakland for two games in the Holy Names Tournament. The Lancers open with Olivet Nazarene (IL) on Friday (Nov. 26) at 6 p.m.
