California Baptist University
Cal State Monterey Bay
OTTER POPPERS
11/17/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- For 38 minutes, All-American junior Nicole Davis put California Baptist on her back.
The remaining two minutes, her teammates picked her up and returned the favor.
As a result, the Lancers dug out an 83-78 non-conference win over NCAA Division II Cal State Monterey Bay in a rare Saturday afternoon matinee in the Van Dyne Gym.
The win is the Lancers' third straight to open the season as they improve to 3-0 overall. The Otters fall to 0-2.
Davis led all players with 32 points, the fifth 30-point game of her career, before fouling out with her team clinging to a 78-75 lead with just 2:07 left.
“When Nicole went out I still felt like we were gong to be able pull it out,” said CBU head coach Danelle Bishop. We just needed to slow things down, use the clock, play defense and get stops, and that's what we did. It wasn't a pretty game, but I'm glad we pulled it out, and we'll always take a win.”
Already shorthanded with just nine players suited up, the Lancers rallied together and put together a workmanlike final two minutes to close the door, not allowing a field goal to the Otters in the final 3:49. The Otters' Dana Andrews made one of two free throws on the ensuing trip to the line after Davis fouled out to make it 78-76. Just nine seconds later, Brenna Hahn's lay-up pushed the lead back up to four before Andrews made another two free throws.
After a CBU turnover, the Otters had a chance two chances to tie or take the lead after getting an offensive rebound. However, Megan Bradford grabbed the rebound from Andrews' three-point attempt, and Bryanna Williams put the game out of reach with a lay-up with 24 seconds left.
Romeka Randolph came off the bench to add a season-high 18 points, and a game-high nine rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Erin Greenberg chipped in with 13 points, keyed by a trio of treys.
Andrews led the Otters with 19 points, hitting a quartet of three-pointers.
CBU used a 20-6 run over a 4:15 span late in the first half, turning a three-point deficit into an 11-point lead it would not relinquish. Davis started the spurt with five straight points, and her first trey of the game gave the Lancers a 30-28 lead. The teams then traded three-pointers before Randolph scored five straight to push the margin up to six. Bradford's lay-up off a Randolph steal gave the Lancers a 45-34 lead with 2:15 to play.
Davis was 11-for-22 from the field and had 19 of her 32 in the first half as the Lancers built up a 48-38 halftime lead. She also added seven assists.
