SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — After being put in the same regional as the No. 1-ranked team, people had doubts California Baptist University would make it out. It did and became the fist PacWest school to win the West Region. Heading into the Elite 8, people thought the Lancers were just lucky and couldn't get past No. 23 New Haven. They did. Even with all that, people still doubted the Lancers could snap a 33-game winning streak to make their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship game. Once again, CBU proved the doubters wrong.
 
It isn't a fairy godmother keeping CBU's Cinderella story alive, it's pure determination and a sense of togetherness. People may have had their doubts about the unranked Lancers heading into the Elite 8, but after Wednesday night's 85-67 — the largest margin of victory in the Elite 8 — win over No. 2 Limestone, CBU is making believers out of everyone.
 
The Lancers head into the championship game with a 29-6 record. Limestone ends its season with a 34-2 mark.

"I was just really proud of how we played tonight," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "We played really well and beat a good team; scoring 85 points on [Limestone] you know you played pretty well.  I thought our defense was the big difference in the game.  I know they scored some points late but I thought our team did a good job."
 
Courtney Nelson led four Lancers in double-digits with 20 points (9-for-18). Darsha Burnside followed with another double-double, scoring 17 points (7-for-13) and 18 rebounds. Kamille Diaz finished with 15 points (4-for-14) and a perfect 5-to-0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Cassidy Mihalko rounded out the quartet with 13 points (4-for-11). Chanel Cambronero also dished out five assists on the night.

"I think we are clicking as a team," said Cambronero. "I don't think it's our best basketball, though, we've played better."
 
As a team, CBU held Limestone to a 34.7 shooting percentage from the field and 24.0 from beyond the arc.
 
CBU struck first and jumped out in front 12-5 within the first four minutes of action. Nelson rattled in the first basket and Mihalko sank a three to give the Lancers the seven-point lead.
 
The Saints cut within five at 28-23, but the Lancers took off on a huge 13-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the night, 41-23. Nelson banked in a fade away jumper during the run, followed by an Erin Asher three-pointer to help give CBU a commanding 42-27 cushion at halftime.
 
Picking up right where they left off, the Lancers kept moving the ball offensively and forced Limestone to take tough shots. As CBU looked more and more in control, the Saints looked more and more frustrated.
 
With less than 12 minutes remaining, Diaz put an extra nail in the coffin with a high-arching triple to put the Lancers up by 18 points on a team that topped the NCAA Division II rankings for a good portion of the season.
 
Limestone tried to cut into the margin, but Burnside made it a 20-point game, 63-43, with 9:30 on the clock. The Saints desperately hung on, but a Diaz and-one followed by two Nelson buckets opened up CBU's lead by 25 points, 70-45.
 
The Saints kept battling despite the huge margin, but it wasn't enough to overpower the Lancers as CBU grabbed an impressive 85-67 win.

"I know that we have a really good team and can beat anybody," said Olson. "We also have shown that we can lose to anybody too which keeps us pretty humble. But I'm certainly not surprised that we've played well."

While the Lancers may have to prove some doubters wrong, they know they have the support of the CBU community back at home as the text, tweets and messages came pouring in after the game.

"We're playing for CBU," said Diaz. "To have them supporting us and watching our games, is pretty cool. They're a part of our journey too."

"I agree," said Cambronero. "We're playing for ourselves but also for the name on the front of our jersey. To have that support and have everyone text us telling us that they're watching and supporting us means more than they know. It keeps us going."
 
Olson isn't unfamiliar with a championship game, he took his Lancers to the National Christian College Athletic Association final match in his first year, but they came up just shy of the title. Fast-forward two years and Olson and his Lancers have a chance to make CBU history as the first team to win a NCAA Division II championship.

"[It hasn't really sunk in] for me, I'm just trying to enjoy the ride," said Diaz. "Nobody thought we were going to be here, so it really doesn't feel like it's the NCAA Tournament yet, we just take it one day at a time."

"I couldn't be more thankful for how this season is ending, but to me the season keeps going," added senior Cambronero. "I don't think it's hit me yet that it's the post season. Coach keeps emphasizing to just keep playing basketball."  

CBU takes on No. 14-ranked California (Pa.) on Friday at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, hoping to complete the Cinderella story. 

"It's going to be a tough game for us," said Olson on California (Pa.). "I'm really looking forward to it because I know it will bring out the best in our team and I want to see what we have."

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