CARSON, Calif. — After a slow start yesterday, No. 13-ranked California Baptist University came out determined to get after Cal State L.A. from the get-go Saturday afternoon. The Lancers jumped out in front and fended off a Golden Eagle comeback effort to grab an 81-70 win to conclude the CCAA/PacWest Challenge, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The Lancers improve to 7-2 overall, entering PacWest action next week on a four-game winning streak. The Eagles drop to 3-3 on the year with the loss.
 
Lexy Ram had a career day, finishing with 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Cassidy Mihalko followed with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Tori Mitchell chipped in 13 points (3-for-6). Kamille Diaz helped move the ball around, dishing out seven assists without turning the ball over at all.
 
The Lancers opened with a 13-2 run to take control of the game early. The Eagles scored first, but Diaz banked in a put-back to spark the 13-straight points for CBU. Four other Lancers scored in the spree, including Mitchell, Mihalko, Courtney Nelson and Emma Meriggioli.
 
Ram knocked down a three to open the second quarter, giving the Lancers a 25-9 upper hand, before a Mihalko layup off a Nelson assist gave CBU a 20-point lead, 30-10.
 
CSULA kept fighting and cut the score to 47-31 at halftime, hoping to launch a furious comeback in the final two quarters of the game. The Eagles managed to slice the deficit to eight points, 54-46, halfway through the third.
 
Determined to not let CSULA back in the game, the Lancers grabbed back their double-digit lead heading down the stretch off a Ram layup, 77-67.
 
The Eagles cut it back down to seven, 77-70, however, putting hope back in CSULA to overcome the Lancers.
 
Meriggioli forced a turnover and put Ram off on a fast break. The Lancers then got a stop on defense and Nelson sealed the 81-70 victory with a layup with 27 seconds to go.
 
CBU opens PacWest action on the road at Point Loma on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., before hosting rival Azusa Pacific on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.