California Baptist University
Dixie State
One Step Closer
2/19/2012 4:39:00 AM | Women's Basketball
In front of a packed homecoming gym, CBU took the best the Red Storm could throw at them early and then got clutch play late to defeat DSC for the second time this week. The Lancers won in Utah on Tuesday, breaking the Red Storm's seven-game win streak and evening the conference standings.
With the win CBU moves to 18-4 overall, 11-3 PacWest, matching Academy of Art for the best record in the conference. DSC falls to 16-7, 11-4. The Lancers have defeated Academy of Art twice already this season.
"Getting this win on our home floor was huge and gets us another step closer to where we want to be," said Head Coach John Marcum. "The girls responded to every run they made tonight and never seemed panicked. This was a great crowd and a great atmosphere. Our girls were fired up from the start."
The Lancers weathered an early storm from DSC, as the Red Storm hit four of their first five 3-pointers and took a nine-point lead.
CBU ratcheted up the defense, clamping down on the DSC perimeter shooters, to climb back into the game, though.
Brittney Lewis and Megan workman hit back-to-back field goals and Marlee Rice drained a three to score seven straight for the Lancers and pull CBU to within 23-21.
CBU closed to within one four times in the half, but couldn't overtake the lead, going into the break down 37-36. Every player that touched the floor for the Lancers in the first half scored.
Out of the break Myriah Hicks gave the Lancers their first lead since the opening basket with a jumper and Simone Holmes stole the ball and took it coast-to-coast putting CBU up 41-37. The Lancers scored the first nine points out of the half.
Two free throws from Alexis Johnson with eight minutes left put CBU up 10 at 65-55. Both Johnson and fellow post players Nicole Anderson and Jasmine Beverly consistently gave the Lancers second chance opportunities on the offensive glass.
The Red Storm used an 8-2 run to pull within three with two minutes to play and after three free throws evened the game at 67-67 with 1:47 left.
The teams traded turnovers and with 49 seconds left CBU got the ball back. Out of a timeout Hicks drove to the basket and drew the foul, hitting both free throws to put the Lancers up 69-67.
With 15.6 seconds Adams was hit with a traveling violation, giving CBU the ball back and sealing the win. Hicks hit two more free throws down the stretch.
"I really thought that run out of the half was huge for us to get some confidence and momentum back," said Marcum. "The girls were very poised down the stretch tonight. Myriah is tough as nails and when the game's on the line she's a great one to have out there."
CBU was again outshot by the Red Storm, shooting 37.7 percent to 41.1 percent by DSC, but the Lancers made up for it at the charity stripe, hitting 21-of-23 foul shots.
"Shooting over 90 percent from the free throw line wins a lot of games," said Marcum. "That along with winning the turnover and points in the paint battle was key."
CBU forced DSC into 21 turnovers in the game and had 25 points off turnovers to just nine for the Red Storm. CBU also outscored DSC30-18 in the paint and 14-9 on second chance points.
The Lancers had four players score in double figures, with Johnson leading the way at 18. Anderson scored 12 points and had a team-high three steals and Holmes added 14 points. Hicks got six of her 10 points at the free throw line, going 6-for-6. Anderson and Johnson were also 6-for-6 at the foul line.
Becca Thomas led the Red Storm with 17 points and six boards.
CBU now hosts Chaminade on Monday.
