Harper Leads Lancers to Win over LBSU in Opener

Tuesday, November 5

Riverside, Calif.

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

1-0,0-0WAC

Long Beach State

0-1,0-0Big West

Long Beach St.

California Baptist

Harper Leads Lancers to Win over LBSU in Opener

11/5/2019 7:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE --- A career high 22 points from sophomore Caitlyn Harper propelled California Baptist University to a 79-70 victory over Long Beach State in front of a packed crowd on Tuesday night.

A total of 1,773 fans came out for the Lancers' home and season opener in the CBU Events Center. It was the second-largest crowd in program history, and the largest for a CBU season opener. It's the second time in as many years CBU has surpassed 1,500 fans for a game, with its current record of 2,119 coming against Utah Valley on January 31, 2019.

The Lancers secured the win as they outscored Long Beach State 29-19 in the fourth quarter. It overcome what was a one-point deficit for CBU going into the final 10 minutes. CBU starts the year at 1-0, while the Beach begin at 0-1.

Offensively, CBU was efficient as it shot 40.1 percent from the field (26-65), 85.7 percent from the free-throw line (18-21) and made nine three-pointers, while holding LBSU to just three triples. Defensively, the Lancers held the Beach to just 16.7 percent from beyond the arc, nearly half of LBSU's average last year of 30.3 percent.

Harper not only led CBU in scoring, but added nine rebounds and three blocks, while Lexy Ram had a great game in her own right, with 17 points and six rebounds.

Harper with the block, Harper with the hustle, Harper with the score!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ZpnSi3m6yw
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) November 6, 2019

Georgia Dale did a bit of everything, with 13 points, six assists and four rebounds. Senior Tiena Afu chipped in 10 points, as well, while redshirt freshman Sydney Palma tallied six points, four rebounds and three assists in her collegiate debut.

"We got great minutes from Sydney and Georgia played really well," Olson said. "Obviously, Caitlyn was huge for us. She worked really hard over the summer and it shows; she was great for us tonight."

👟

Georgia Dale uses the back of a Beach defender to inbound the ball TO HERSELF, makes the layup, and then loses a shoe! #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/4Y7uUSE5cl
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) November 6, 2019

Known for her three-point prowess, Ram nailed a trio of treys during the game, including the shot that sealed the win for CBU in the final seconds.

Lexy Ram ices the game with a 3-pointer!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/yx1NtkTxgr
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) November 6, 2019

The difference in the game -- statistically speaking -- was the free-throw shooting. The Lancers took 21 while LBSU took 20, but CBU made 18 while Beach converted just 13. The 85.7 percent from the charity stripe was a huge improvement over last year when the Lancers shot 69 percent. Harper (6-6), Ram (4-4) and Afu (2-2) were all perfect from the line, while Dale sank 5-of-6.

"We've spent a lot of time over the last couple weeks working on our free throws," Olson said. "We've got a good shooting team so I would expect us to be a good free throw shooting team, but tonight was exceptional for sure. It was the difference in the game."

The Lancers will host the Matadors from CSUN on Saturday afternoon. The game will be a rematch from last season and an opportunity for CBU to avenge the 73-67 loss from last year in Northridge.