RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In its first PacWest ranked showdown, No. 5 California Baptist University had to fight off a tough No. 24 Azusa Pacific squad and came out the better for it. The Lancers held on for a tight 63-62 victory, ending the Cougars' unbeaten-in-conference streak.
 
"Tonight was a tough game," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "It was two very good teams and then you add the rivalry on top of that.  It was really exciting and fun though."
 
The Lancers improve to 15-1 on the year, avenging their only loss of the season at APU back in December, and 7-1 in the PacWest. The win also moves the Lancers into second place in conference with a string of eight-straight wins. The Cougars drop to 12-3 overall, 6-1 in conference.
 
Cassidy Mihalko led the Lancers with 24 points on the night (7-for-12), including a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line. Kamille Diaz followed with 12 points (5-for-12).
 
Megan Frerer led CBU's rebounding effort with 14 boards, helping the Lancers dominate the glass 52-to-36.
 
Frerer jump started CBU off on a 6-0 run to open the game, grabbing an offensive rebound and tapping it in off the backboard, followed by another basket in the paint off an assist from Erin Asher. Mihalko made it 6-0 by driving to the rim.
 
APU answered with a 6-0 run of its own to even things up and eventually built up its first lead of the night.
 
Down 16-11, Mihalko hit two chances at the line to cut it down to a possession. Courtney Nelson made a stop on defense to keep momentum in CBU's favor and grabbed an offensive rebound, laying it up and in to put the Lancers within one.
 
The Cougars built back their lead briefly, but Mihalko stole the ball away and laid it in with ease to tie the game up at 19-19. About 30 seconds later, she finished two shots at the charity stripe to even the score once more at 21-21 after the first quarter.
 
Neither team could quite establish a lead in the second period as the lead went back and forth between the two teams. APU made a bit of a push to take an eight-point lead, but Emma Meriggioli hit a layup just before time expired to put CBU down 36-30 at halftime.
 
CBU came alive in the second half as the intensity in Van Dyne Gym exploded off the charts.
 
Diaz cut the score to three points, draining a big shot from deep to put CBU behind 41-38. Still, APU tried to maintain its edge and went in front 47-43.
 
Olivia Weber finished both her chances at the free-throw line to cut the margin to just two points and Mihalko drew a foul, hitting both of her shots to even it at 47-47. The junior guard then put the Lancers back in front as she drove to the basket.
 
The fourth quarter became a defensive showdown as neither team could put the ball in the net until almost four minutes into the frame. Asher broke the drought, banking in a shot off a Nelson assist to put the Lancers in front by three, 59-56, with just over six minutes to go.
 
Asher extended that lead not long after, finding an open lane to the rim once again, this time off a Diaz dime.
 
The Cougars made things interesting, however, taking a one-point lead with just three minutes remaining on the clock. Mihalko responded with two points in the paint, which proved to be the difference maker as neither team's defense would allow another basket to hand CBU the 63-62 win.
 
"The crowd was awesome and really inspired us down the stretch," Olson said.
 
"The environment and fans were just amazing," Mihalko agreed. "It really kept us going down the stretch! Our home court advantage is the best."
 
The Lancers will have to see what they're made of on the road once again, heading to Hawaii for a three-game swing on two islands next week. CBU first takes on Hawaii Pacific and BYU-Hawaii on Thursday and Friday on Oahu, before jumping over to the Big Island for a matchup at Hawaii-Hilo on Monday, Jan. 25.