RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Despite its third game in four days, No. 4 California Baptist University didn't look weary Saturday night, downing Fresno Pacific 93-53.
 
"It was a good week for us," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "We won three conference games and we improved as a team."
 
The Lancers improve to 13-1 overall, 5-1 in the PacWest, and extend their win streak to six-straight with the victory that was featured on ESPN 3 as an NCAA Division II Game of the Week. The Sunbirds fall to 2-11 on the year and will have to look elsewhere for their first conference win of the season.
 
Cassidy Mihalko had a career night, leading both teams with 30 points (12-for-17). Kamille Diaz followed with 17 points (5-for-13) and dished out 11 assists — just one shy of a career high — to grab a double-double on the night. Courtney Nelson rounded out the Lancers scoring in double figures with 15 points (6-for-17).
 
"We were just really clicking on offense and had good ball movement against their zone," said Mihalko. "I count on Kamille a lot, but tonight everyone was moving the ball well. Courtney and Emma Meriggioli both had some great passes to me. I couldn't do it without my team."
 
Megan Frerer led CBU's rebounding effort, finishing the night with a career-high 15 boards and four steals. Her contributions off the glass helped the Lancers out-rebound the Sunbirds 52-to-40.
 
"It was nice to see Megan play so well," said Olson. "She really anchored our defense."
 
Frerer led the night off with the first points of the contest, posting up under the basket off an assist from Nelson. It kick started the Lancers off on a 7-2 run to establish themselves early.
 
FPU managed to cut the margin to just one point, 12-11, but CBU opened up another run, scoring nine-straight points to take its first double-digit lead of the night, 22-11, just before the first quarter ended. Three-pointers bookended the run as both Mihalko and Diaz sank their shots from the perimeter.
 
To open the second frame, the Sunbirds tried to keep the Lancers under control, but couldn't quite contain the home team.
 
In front 28-19, CBU put together another 7-0 run off back-to-back layups from Nelson and Mihalko. Diaz capped the run by draining a high-arching shot from deep, putting the Lancers up 35-19.
 
Minutes later, Mihalko capitalized on an and-one opportunity to put CBU threatening toward a 20-point lead. The Sunbirds chipped it back down to 16, but another 7-0 run tipped CBU over the 20-point mark. Frerer both initiated and finished the run at the charity stripe, putting the Lancers in front by 47-24.
 
A minute before halftime, Mihalko dropped a shot from the perimeter off an assist from Diaz, but FPU scored one more time before halftime to walk into the locker room trailing 50-27.
 
Coming out of the break it seemed CBU was unstoppable as it opened the second half scoring eight-straight points. Diaz rattled in a three to start the run and assisted Mihalko's layup to give the Lancers a commanding 32-point edge, 59-27.
 
FPU would cut that margin down to 26 points, but it was the closest the visitors would get for the rest of the third as CBU closed it with a 76-44 cushion.
 
CBU kept rolling and sealed the 40-point victory as Kristine Sellona knocked down a triple from the corner to give the Lancers the 93-53 win.
 
"Tonight gets us closer to our goals of winning conference and advancing to the postseason," said Mihalko. "We also got to see some things we need to improve on individually and as a team, which we'll do next week."
 
The Lancers get some time to recover from three games in four days as they don't play again until next Thursday, Jan. 14th. CBU hosts Holy Names at 5:00 p.m. before taking on rival Azusa Pacific two days later. The Lancers will look to avenge their only loss of the year so far as they tip off with the Cougars at 5:00 p.m. in the Van Dyne Gym.