California Baptist University
Westmont
JUST GETTING IT DONE
11/20/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? It may have not been the prettiest win, but any win in the Golden State Athletic Conference is any win Danelle Bishop and California Baptist will take. The Lancers (4-0, 1-0 GSAC) opened the conference season with a 71-68 win over Westmont, Tuesday. CBU didn't score the final four minutes of the game, but leaned on its defense that forced 19 turnovers by the Warriors (2-1, 0-1 GSAC).
“Every GSAC game is going to be a tough,” said Bishop. “It wasn't pretty the last four minutes, but I think we did what we had to do. I was proud of them in how tough they played down the stretch.”
Nicole Davis scored a game-high 26 points, 10 of which came from 10-of-11 at the free throw line. She also had a game-high six assists. Brenna Hahn and Romeka Randolph both finished in double figures as Hahn had 14 and Randolph scored 12.
While it has been hot shooting that kept the Lancers alive in their first three games, it was defense that made the difference against Westmont. Freshman Cassandra Tigget led the way with six blocks which was the most by any Lancer in a single game since 1991 when Sonja Akkerman had seven.
“Cassandra just did a tremendous job tonight,” said Bishop. “This was one of her best days we've seen in practice and any game yet this year. She really stepped up tonight where we needed her to. We felt like we were getting hurt in the post so that's why we put her in. She bothered a lot of shots on both the posts and guards. We really needed her tonight, and she came through.”
The Lancers just edged the Warriors in shooting as CBU was 24-of-61 (39.3 percent) from the floor compared to 24-of-62 (38.7 percent) shooting for WC. The difference was at the line as the Lancers hit 75 percent (18-for-24) from the charity stripe compared the Warriors who shot 48 percent (12-of-25).
CBU trailed 59-58 with 6:59 left to play, but used a 10-3 run capped off by a Jeanine Deno three pointer to take a 68-62 lead. Randolph then gave the Lancers a 71-63 lead with 4:31 when she recorded a traditional three-point play. That was the last bucket scored by CBU.
“I think the first win is always tough, especially for the new kids,” said Bishop. “They have never seen a conference game before and the physicalness of what the game is. People ask what the difference is between a non-conference and conference game, and it is exactly what we saw tonight. Everything is at stake. We have been consistent at playing hard. We may not be the most consistent in other areas of the game, but you can't question the effort we give on the floor.”
CBU returns to action Friday, when it hosts Cal State L.A. at 6 p.m. in a game that was originally scheduled to be played in Los Angeles, but will now be played inside Van Dyne Gymnasium.
