SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — California Baptist University came into Tuesday's quarterfinal matchup with No. 23 New Haven as the only unranked team left competing. Some people might have thought it was a fluke the Lancers made it out of the West Region, but CBU used it as motivation and showed from the start that it deserved to be there.

"I just think it really fires us up that everyone thinks that it was luck that we got here," said sophomore guard Courtney Nelson. "We just have to prove everyone wrong."
 
The Lancers came out and defeated their second ranked opponent of the year 86-77 to improve to 28-6 and keep the Cinderella story going. The Chargers end their season 26-6 with the loss.

"I'm really proud of the way the girls played," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "We had some kids really step up and make some big plays down the stretch. We also got a lot of easy baskets in the second half just from running the floor, which I think was probably the difference in the game. I don't think we shot that well until the second half, but most of that was because we were able to get the ball down low."
 
Darsha Burnside had a monster night at the post for the Lancers ending with her 23rd double-double of the year with 27 points (10-for-19) and 16 rebounds. She also blocked five shots to move to 109 on the season, just nine away from setting a new program record for most blocks in a single season.

"We came this far [not to lose] and I just really wanted it," said Burnside of her performance. "My teammates did a nice job of getting me the ball and I believe in myself. I was just feeling it."
 
Three other Lancers finished with double figures as Nelson posted 19 points (6-for-11, 2-for-2 3PT), Cassidy Mihalko grabbed 14 points (4-for-9) and Kamille Diaz ended with 12 points (4-for-14). Nelson was just two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight boards on the night.

"I just go out and play my hardest," said Nelson. "Whatever happens, happens. Our team is so close that we just rely on each other. I trust my teammates where if I'm not doing well, it's not a big deal. I guess that lowers the nerves for me because I trust my team so much."
 
Nelson opened the contest with back-to-back threes to put the Lancers up 6-0 early. The Chargers managed to battle back within two, 8-6, but Burnside kept them at bay briefly by ending a 6-2 run with a layup in the paint.
 
NHU battled back and took over the lead at 20-16, but CBU responded with a five-point run to jump back in front. Burnside capped the run with an old-fashioned three-point play.
 
The score remained close for the remaining of the frame as the two teams went into halftime deadlocked at 36-36.

"We missed a lot of layups in the first half, I think we were pretty nervous," said Olson. "In the second half we just made them. It wasn't anything I did, the girls settled into the game and were able to make good plays."
 
Coming out of the break, CBU looked fired up and ready to take control of the game. Diaz opened the second half with a three-pointer and Burnside extended the Lancers' lead to 43-38 on a put-back.
 
The Chargers cut the score to 43-41, hoping to keep the Lancers from gaining too much momentum, but Nelson gave CBU back its double-possession lead at 47-41 with just under 16 minutes to play.
 
Burnside gave the Lancers their biggest margin of the night so far at 52-44, scoring five-unanswered points and frustrating the Chargers.

"We did a nice job on everyone besides [Aquillin] Hayes [who scored a game-high 32 points], she's a really good player," said Olson on the Chargers. "We weren't completely surprised that she got into a bit of a rhythm in the second half. I thought as a team we did a nice job making them take tougher shots."
 
CBU continued to force NHU to take tough shots, looking very much in control in the final eight minutes of the game. After being sent to the line, Burnside finished both her free throws to threaten a 10-point lead at 66-58 before the Chargers could get back in it.
 
New Haven took advantage of some Lancer mishaps to pull itself within two points at 75-73 with less than four minutes remaining. Mihalko stopped the charge by driving to the basket to put her team in front by two possessions once more.
 
Clutch free throws in the remaining minutes from Diaz, Nelson and Erin Asher sealed the 86-77 victory, despite NHU's efforts to foul back into the game.
 
CBU turns right around to face No. 2 Limestone Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. Pacific time in a semifinal contest, hoping to keep on dancing all the way to the NCAA Division II Championship game on Friday.

"It means everything to keep playing," said Burnside. "We've never been this far. It's fun doing this with my teammates, even if it is a business trip. Have to take care of business."

Still, Olson and his team are just taking it one game at a time.

"One of the things we've done well this season is focusing on the 'one game at a time' mentality," said Olson. "In the regional we played Cal Poly Pomona in the final and I hadn't seen them play all year, the first time I saw them play was in the semifinals.  We really are just taking it one game at a time and enjoying the moment and happy to be playing so well."