California Baptist University
17-10, 10-4
Utah Valley
14-13, 8-6
Lancers Rattle Off Eighth Straight at Utah Valley
3/2/2019 5:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ball movement, three-point shooting and up-tempo play – the Lancers' calling cards this year – won out over Utah Valley's deliberate, half-court offense as CBU won 92-74 to spoil Utah Valley's Senior Day. It was the 14th time the Lances have scored 80 or more points in a game this year, and the eighth time they've hit 90 or more.
The Wolverines fall to 14-13, 8-6 in the Western Athletic Conference, while the Lancers have won 11 of their last 12 to improve to 17-10 and 10-4 in the WAC. CBU improves on its second-place standing in the conference, but will end its regular season against the two other top-three teams in the WAC.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which is in third (15-12, 9-5) visits the CBU Events Center first Thursday at 6 p.m., while the Lancers will host the regular-season champion NM State Aggies (22-6, 14-1) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Five Lancers scored in double figures, while nine scored at least five in the win. CBU shot 54.1 percent from the field (33-for-61) and 46.4 from three (13-28), with 27 of its 33 field goals coming on assists, and also out rebounded UVU 42-31.
Britney Thomas notched her 17th double-double of the year with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds to go with a block and a steal.
Britney Thomas scores her 10th point of the game on this field goal, and after a little run from Utah Valley to start the third quarter CBU leads by 22, 62-40.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/NrDuGX9m6C
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 2, 2019
Emma Meriggioli nearly had a double-double of her own with 14 points, nine assists and four rebounds. Tiena Afu and Lexy Ram both had seven rebounds and 15 and 11 points, respectively. Ane Olaeta added 10 points and five assists.
CBU's offense put up 55 points in the first half alone. The Lancers shot 60.6 percent from the floor (20-for-33) and 53.3 from three (8-15) in the first 20 minutes, with 15 of their 20 field goals coming off assists.
Afu scored a team-high 11 points in the first half, but eight of nine CBU players who got in the game had at least four points. Meriggioli scored nine points and had six assists, while Thomas had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and five rebounds.
It was a close game early, with both teams playing to a 10-10 tie in the first five minutes. A 10-2 run from CBU quickly changed things sparked by two three-pointers from Maryn Budiman, as it took a 20-12 lead with 3:42 left in the first.
A 12-2 run ups CBU's lead to 20-12 just after the half-point mark of the first quarter. Georgia Dale forces a timeout from Utah Valley after this three-pointer.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/kgz68so5m2
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 2, 2019
The Lancers then finished the opening quarter on a 7-0 run to go into the second with a 27-15 lead.
Georgia Dale knocks down CBU's fourth three-pointer, ending a 7-0 run over the final 2:14 of the first quarter. The Lancers take a 27-15 lead into the second quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/OV3ZKY3khZ
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 2, 2019
Four three pointers, with three out of the hands of Meriggioli, in the opening 5:08 of the second quarter pushed CBU's advantage to 45-25. The lead grew to 24 (55-31) by halftime.
The defense from Britney Thomas and the 3⃣ from Emma Meriggioli! CBU leads 37-21 in the second quarter, with the help of six three-pointers.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/jjzVb4Cjpz
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 2, 2019
Utah Valley fought hard to make things interesting, but would not get its deficit below 15 in the second half. When the Wolverines did make it a 69-54 deficit with 9:15 left in regulation, CBU went on a 7-0 run to go back up by 22, 76-54, with 6:36 remaining.
Utah Valley is fighting hard for a comeback, but this 3⃣ from Lexy Ram sucks the air out of the building. CBU's lead is back up to 20, 74-54, with about seven minutes to play after its 11th three-pointer.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/arLNDX71AC
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 2, 2019
