SURVIVING THE RODEO

Saturday, January 15

Riverside

1:00 PM

California Baptist University

The Master's

1/16/2011 4:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- After leading by double-digits for much of the game, No. 6 California Baptist University had to squeak out a 74-69 win against No. 23 –ranked The Master's at home.

The Mustangs closed the gap to within three points with 15 seconds to play, but could not convert another basket as two free throws in the final seconds by the Lancers' S.J. Simmons sealed the win.

“I didn't think we handled those last few minutes as well as we could have,” said Head Coach John Marcum. “Still we made just enough free throws to get the win at home. When you get those kind of victories and can learn some lessons without losing it's a good thing.”

CBU held an eight-point lead with 2:49 to play, but two straight baskets by the Mustangs cut the lead to four at 68-64.

After the teams traded free throws, V.V. Vasciunaite hit one of two foul shots to give the Lancers a five-point lead. On the very next possession Erica Inge hit a reverse layup in traffic to bring the Mustangs to within three at 72-69 with 15 seconds left.

Each team missed a pair of foul shots down the stretch before the Mustang's Lena Rivera missed a jumper with two seconds left. Simmons was immediately fouled on the rebound and her free throws would end the game.

“We needed to take care of the basketball a little more and understand the time and score down the stretch,” said Marcum.

CBU trailed for a good part of the first half, but Dana Olsen hit back-to-back layups to put the Lancers up 20-17 with 6:39 left to play.

Brenna Hahn completed a three-point play with 1:10 left in the half to push the Lancer lead to double-digits, 34-23. CBU took a 36-27 lead into the break.

The Lancers scored 24 of their 34 points in the paint, while The Master's scored 15 of their 23 from behind the arc.

Olsen finished the game with a season-high 26 points, shooting 11-of-15 from the floor.

“Dana's a really good player and she helped us a lot tonight,” said Marcum. “She can score with her back to the basket and if teams decide to cover her with just one player it's going to be a long night.”

The Lancers had four players in double figures and shot 47.4 percent from the field. CBU used its advantage down low to outscore the Mustangs 36-22 in the paint.

The win moves CBU to 14-4 overall, 7-1 GSAC and drops The Master's to 12-5, 5-3. The Mustangs had been tied with the Lancers atop the conference standings, but have dropped their last two conference games. CBU sits alone atop the GSAC standings.