RIVERSIDE, Calif. — With one last contest before the mandatory NCAA Division II break, No. 6-ranked California Baptist University came out looking to end the 2015 calendar year with a bang. The Lancers did just that, downing Point Loma 94-68 Saturday night.
 
The win puts CBU 10-1 on the season and 2-1 in the PacWest, while the Sea Lions drop to 7-4 overall and 1-3 in conference.
 
"It was a good win for us against a good team in Point Loma," said head coach Jarrod Olson.
 
Going into the matchup, Kamille Diaz had 999 career points to her name, needing to score just one point to break 1,000. She did more than that, leading the Lancers with 28 points (10-for-16) — almost grabbing a double-double with nine assists. She joins teammate Cassidy Mihalko in the 1,000-point club, who broke the barrier at the Azusa Pacific game.
 
"Kamille was great on offense and did an excellent job of attacking – scoring when open and finding her teammates," said Olson. "An all-around great offensive game for her."
 
Mihalko finished the night with 22 points, shooting 8-for-12. Courtney Nelson followed with 19 points (9-for-14) and Megan Frerer rounded out the quartet with 11 points (4-for-5).
 
Both teams started the game hot from the perimeter, with CBU shooting 58.3 percent in the first half and Point Loma at 60 percent.
 
Two-straight three-pointers from Mihalko and Erin Asher put the Lancers up by eight, but the Sea Lions wouldn't let the home team break into a double-digit lead just yet, cutting it to 25-22 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Sea Lions came into the second frame looking to slice the score line even more and opened with a 6-1 run to tie things up at 28-28, forcing a CBU timeout.
 
Diaz hit a deep three-point shot to give the Lancers their first double-digit lead of the night, 40-30, and kept the run going. Olivia Weber rattled in two free throws, before Diaz scored three more points on a free throw and a jump shot to extend the lead even further.
 
Point Loma managed to stop the scoring spree briefly, but CBU held a 13-point cushion at halftime, 51-38.
 
"It really was or defense, especially in the second and third quarters that got us going and gave us separation," Olson said. "Overall, it was a very balanced effort with everyone contributing."
 
It wasn't long before the Lancers extended their margin into 20-point territory as Diaz drove to the basket to make it a 63-42 game with 6:15 left to play in the third.
 
The Sea Lions responded with two points of their own, but CBU scored seven-straight points to take a commanding 70-44 cushion. Nelson bookended the run and Frerer kept it going by tapping it in off the glass. 
 
Despite Point Loma's efforts to contain the Lancers, the home team threatened a 30-point lead in the final minutes of the game. After the Sea Lions cut within 88-65, Mihalko started a 6-0 run. Frerer and Asher each got in on the action to put CBU in front by 29 points, 94-65, but it was the highest the Lancers would get as they grabbed the 94-68 victory.
 
The Lancers will take some time to relax and enjoy the holidays before getting back to work to be ready for their first game of 2016 on Jan. 5 at 5:00 p.m. CBU's contest a few days later on Saturday, Jan. 9, will be televised on ESPN3.