ALL OUT OF MAGIC

Thursday, February 3

Santa Barbara, CA

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

Westmont

2/4/2011 4:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- No. 3 California Baptist University had its nine-game winning streak snapped Thursday night, as the team suffered an 83-71 loss on the road to No. 24 Westmont.

The late game magic CBU seemed to have all season didn't follow the team up the 101 to Santa Barbara, as the Lancers were unable to complete a second half comeback against the Warriors.

“You have to take your hats off to Westmont, they played really well tonight,” said Head Coach John Marcum. “I thought we lost our poise a little bit down the stretch and had way too many fouls.”

Trailing the entire second half, the Lancers pulled to within five on a free throw by Dana Olsen with 1:10 to play. That was the last point CBU would score, however, as the Warriors ended the game with seven-straight points, all on free throws.

“It's tough to win when a team shoots almost twice as many free throws as you,” said Marcum, referring to the 30-17 foul shot attempt advantage the Warriors held. “We traded giving up open 3-pointers for trips to the foul line in the second half.”

Opposite of the wire-to-wire lead Westmont held in the second half, the first half that saw nine lead changes and seven ties. The Warriors used nine 3-pointers on 52 percent shooting from beyond the arc, to take a 41-38 advantage into the half.

CBU led by as much as six early, jumping out to an 8-2 lead to start the game. A pair of 3-pointers and a jumper would get Westmont back in the game, taking a 10-8 lead. The two teams would continue to trade the lead through the half.

Out of the break the Warriors got a three point play and another 3-pointer to take a 47-38 lead and force a CBU timeout.

Westmont would push its second half lead to as much as 11 before CBU made its push in the final minutes.

The Warriors missed just one of their 30 free throws in the game and ended shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc.

The Lancers held the edge in overall field goal percentage, shooting 45 percent from the floor. CBU shot just 25 percent from 3-point territory.

Westmont had six players in double-figures, led by Katie Kittle with 15.

Olsen had 24 points for the Lancers and S.J. Simmons had 22. Simmons also had nine rebounds to lead the team.

“We just need to regroup and get ready for a tough one on Tuesday,” said Marcum. “It definitely doesn't get any easier playing Azusa Pacific, but it's a different type of game with them. They are a much more physical interior minded team.”

CBU takes on the Cougars in Azusa, Calif. Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. With the loss the Lancers and Cougars each have two GSAC losses. CBU falls to 19-5 overall, 12-2 GSAC, while the Warriors improve to 16-5, 8-5.