RIVERSIDE, Calif. – California Baptist University may not be excited about close to 15-degree weather in Alaska, however, the Lancers are excited to take part in their first-ever NCAA Division II West Region tournament.
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After Sunday's selection show put the Lancers as the No. 5 seed, they face off against a familiar foe, taking on No. 4 seed Hawaii Pacific on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (Pacific time). The winner will then moves on to the regional semifinal Saturday at 8:30 p.m. (Pacific time) against the winner of No. 1 seed Alaska Anchorage and No. 8 seed Point Loma.
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ABOUT THE TOURNAMENTIt came as no surprise that the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II came out as the top seed in the West Region to handle hosting responsibilities. It marks the first time the Seawolves host the regional and will take place March 13-16 at the Alaska Airlines Center. Eight teams will compete for the title and the winner of Monday night's title game will advance to play winner of the East Region in the national quarterfinals at the NCAA Div. II Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Mar. 24.
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HEAD-TO-HEADFriday marks the third time the Lancers and Sharks will face off and the second time in less than a week. The PacWest Tournament title game came down to the wire, with HPU squeaking out the win by just one point, 74-73. The loss was just the second time CBU has suffered a loss to HPU in the young all-time series. The Lancers still hold the upper hand, however, with a 5-2 all-time record — three of those wins coming under head coach
Jarrod Olson.
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TICKET INFOTickets will be sold starting Monday, Mar. 9 at 12 p.m. ADT (Alaska Daylight Time). Tickets can be bought one of three ways – in person at the Alaska Airlines Center box office (3550 Providence Dr.), online at alaskaairlinescenter.com (fees apply), or charge by phone at 907-891-7410. Single session pricing for adults is $12 and for youth/seniors/students tickets are $7. All three sessions package is $30 for adults and $18 for youth/seniors/students.
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MULTIMEDIAAll of the games at UAA will feature live stats and video stream, found at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaa/. CBU's game will also have a radio broadcast from Assistant Sports Information Director
Andrew Shortall at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/cbulancers. Fans can access live updates on Twitter by following @CBULancers.
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LANCER NOTESCBU comes into the NCAA postseason standing at 24-6 overall and receiving votes in the latest USA Today Sports Top 25 Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll. The Lancers also rank in the division statistically as the No. 7 team in scoring offense, averaging 79.8 points per game. CBU also stands as the No. 15 three-point shooting team (7.9 triples per game), No. 18 blocking team (4.7 a contest) and No. 2 defensive rebounding team (32 a night) in Division II.
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Darsha Burnside is a major factor in the Lancers' successes, averaging a double-double after posting 21 on the season so far to rank fourth in NCAA Division II. She is seventh in the division with a 12.4 rebounds per game average to go along with her 14.3 ppg average. Her 3.25 blocks per game puts her sixth in the division as well.
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Cassidy Mihalko leads the Lancers with a 15.4 ppg average, while
Courtney Nelson's 15.2 ppg average puts her right on her fellow sophomore's tail.
Kamille Diaz rounds out the four Lancers averaging double figures with 13.2 ppg. Diaz also tops the team by dishing out 4.4 assists per game, breaking into the top-50 of the NCAA Division II. Her 3.00 three-pointers per game also ranks in the division, making her the No. 10 threat from the perimeter.
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SHARK NOTESHPU, which broke into the NCAA Division II rankings Tuesday as the No. 25 team, leads the division in scoring offense, scoring 82.7 ppg on average. The Sharks enter their second NCAA Division II Tournament with a string of eight wins in tow, sitting 25-4 overall. PacWest Player of the Year Morganne Comstock leads the Sharks with a double-double average, 19.7 ppg and 11.0 rpg. The conference's Newcomer of the Year, Kylie Huerta, follows with 15.1 ppg and tops the team with 7.1 assists per game. Chenise Peone (13.6 ppg), Veanne Navarro (12.1 ppg) and Breanna Mackenzie (10.2 ppg) round out the five Sharks scoring in double figures.
