Scoring On All Fronts

Thursday, November 19

Riverside, Calif.

5:00 pm

California Baptist University

3-0

Northwest Nazarene

1-2

Northwest Nazarene

California Baptist

Photo by: Conner Schuh

11/19/2015 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — For the third-straight game, No. 3-ranked California Baptist University defeated its opponent by 20 or more points. For the first time this season, the Lancers were able to showcase their stuff and posted an 89-69 victory over Northwest Nazarene.

With the win, CBU improves to 3-0 on the young season, while the Crusaders fall to 1-2.

It was a team effort as five Lancers scored in double-digits, led by Cassidy Mihalko with 20 points (7-for-11, 3-for-4 3PT). Courtney Nelson (8-for-18) and Kamille Diaz (6-for-14) followed with 18 and 17 points, respectively, while freshman Emma Meriggioli contributed 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting.

Darsha Burnside grabbed her second double-double of the year with 10 points (3-for-7) and 19 rebounds, and was just three blocks shy of a triple-double as she finished the night with seven swats.

"We had really good balance tonight," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "The ball really moved well on offense and the girls did a great job of making plays."

The first quarter started pretty even with both teams coming out of the first 10 minutes even at 22-22.

Down 36-35, CBU made its first big move of the game, going on a 10-point rampage to hold a 45-36 lead at halftime. All 10 points came from Diaz as she scored back-to-back layups and then back-to-back three-pointers. Two shots at the line sealed the run to put her team up by nine at halftime.

Despite taking a break for 15 minutes, the run didn't stop as CBU opened the second half by scoring four consecutive points to take a 13-point lead. Burnside laid in the first two points of the third quarter and Meriggioli finished two chances at the charity stripe before the Crusaders could stop the run.

NNU cut the margin to single-digits, 58-49, but Mihalko drained a three to put the Lancers back up by double-digits, 61-49.

The Crusaders tried to hang with the home team, but just couldn't seem to contain the Lancers. Burnside finished two free throws to initiate a 10-0 run that put CBU up 75-55. Diaz capped the run on a fast-break layup off an assist from Erin Asher.

CBU coasted the remaining eight minutes to grab the 89-69 victory and keep its margin unblemished after three games. The Lancers continue at home, hosting Humboldt State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.