Hitting Second Gear

Thursday, December 3

Riverside, Calif.

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

7-0, 1-0PWC

Dixie State

0-6, 0-1PWC

Dixie State

California Baptist University

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

12/3/2015 8:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — No. 2-ranked California Baptist University has won every game leading up to the start of conference by at least 20 points and wasn't about to stop that Thursday night. The Lancers trailed in the first quarter but powered through to a 95-73 victory over Dixie State to begin the PacWest season.

"It was a good win tonight," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "Everyone contributed — it was a real team effort. It was a nice way to start conference play."

CBU improves to 7-0 on the year, continuing its best start to the season in program history, and opens PacWest action 1-0. The Red Storm, on the other hand, leave Van Dyne Gym still looking for their first win of the year, sitting 0-6 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Cassidy Mihalko led four Lancers scoring in double-digits, finishing the night with 17 points (6-for-13). Emma Meriggioli (6-for-12) and Kamille Diaz (6-for-7) each chipped in 15 points, while Darsha Burnside grabbed her fifth double-double of the year with 12 points (5-for-9) and 10 rebounds. Diaz also dished out seven assists on the night, while only turning the ball over once.

CBU opened with a 7-0 run, but then went on a bit of a scoring drought to end the first quarter down 18-14.

That didn't last long, however, as the Lancers opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run to jump back in front. Olivia Weber scored the first two points of the run off an assist from Meriggioli and the freshman guard, Meriggioli, capped the run by draining a three-point basket off an assist from Diaz.

"Cass and Emma really got us going in the second quarter, but it was the increased intensity on defense that really was the difference," said Olson.

Diaz gave the Lancers their first 10-point cushion of the night by sinking a shot from the perimeter off an assist from Courtney Nelson, as CBU seemed to have found its rhythm. The home team walked into halftime edging close to a 20-point margin, but wasn't quite there yet.

Less than a minute into the second half, CBU broke the 20-point mark off a triple from Mihalko. Dixie State tried to contain the Lancers, but it just wasn't happening. Nelson dished out a great pass to find Weber under the net to give CBU a 30-point lead, 70-40, and completed the old-fashioned three-point play after drawing a foul.

In the final 10 minutes of action, the Red Storm tried to slice away at the home team's upper hand, but just couldn't put the margin under 20 points. Erin Asher sealed the 95-73 win by stealing the ball away in the final seconds of the contest.

The Lancers don't get much time to rest before heading to Azusa, Calif., on Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against rival Azusa Pacific, which is receiving votes in the top-25 poll.