COMEBACK FALLS SHORT

Tuesday, February 9

Santa Barbara, CA

5:30 p.m.

California Baptist University

Westmont

2/10/2010 3:45:00 AM | Women's Basketball

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- California Baptist University had four in double figures and nearly erased all of a 17-point deficit in the final six minutes, but Westmont held off the furious rally and held on for a 95-91 win over the Lancers Tuesday night.

The loss drops the Lancers to 11-13 overall, 4-10 GSAC, while the Warriors improve to 15-7, 8-6 and avenge a loss to the Lancers earlier this season.

Brenna Hahn led all players with a career-high 28 points, going 11-for-17 from the floor. She betters her previous career best of 24 set as a freshman against Azusa Pacific on Feb. 29, 2008.

Heather Couzens finished with 23 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Elizabeth Evancoe, who had just five points in 11 minutes the last time these teams met in January, led Westmont with 22 points. Amber Stevens narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Jessica Case added 18 points, going 8-for-11 from the line, including 7-for-8 in the final 51 seconds.

Westmont, which led 49-41 at halftime, built its way to an 18-point advantage, 68-50, with 13:56 to play. CBU 12-3 run over the next 4:44, capped by a Couzens' jumper to get within 71-62, but the Warriors got back-to-back treys from Evancoe to take an 81-64 lead with 6:18 to play.

Kendra Morris answered with back-to-back treys of her own to kick start a Lancer charge. Couzens hit a 3-pointer of her own to get the Lancers within 90-84 with 43 seconds left. Case made two free throws, and after Hahn scored a lay-up with 24 seconds left, Case went 1-for-2 from the line to leave the door cracked.

Hahn made a lay-up to bring the Lancers within 93-88 with 12 seconds left and was fouled. She missed the free throw, but the Lancers go the offensive rebound, and Hahn sank a 3-pointer with five second left to make it 93-91, but Case sealed the deal with a pair from the line with a second left.

Morris finished with 18 points off the bench, hitting a quartet of 3-pointers. The Lancers were 11-for-21 from downtown. Westmont also made 11 triples, seven of them in the first half. Megan Bradford chipped in with 11 points and five assists.

The Lancers scored 11 of the first 13 points to take an 11-2 lead just 3:53 into the game. Westmont finally caught the Lancers with nine straight points but didn't take its first lead until Stevens buried a triple to make it 22-20 with 10:41 left. Hahn sank a 3-pointer of her own to give the Lancers a 32-31 lead with six minutes left, Westmont scored 13 straight points over the next 2:45 to take a 44-32 lead.