Wednesday, March 20
Riverside, Calif.
5:00 PM
California Baptist University
18-12
79
vs
91
Pepperdine
21-11
1
2
3
4
F
Pepperdine
16
21
26
28
91
California Baptist
18
23
18
20
79
Photo by: Reagan Lee
CBU's Historic Season Comes to an End
3/20/2019 8:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – No matter the result, history was made when California Baptist University and Pepperdine faced off in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament on Wednesday night.
It was the first-ever national postseason tournament game hosted in the CBU Events Center, and the Lancers became just the second team to qualify for and host the WNIT in its first season in NCAA Division I. The Waves used a strong fourth-quarter run to turn what was a tightly-contested game throughout in a 91-79 win.
"I was really proud of the effort that we gave, especially in the first half we played them really well," Coach Jarrod Olson said. "I thought we fought all the way until the end and just couldn't quite get in rhythm and that's a credit to Pepperdine."
CBU ends its season with an 18-12 record, while Pepperdine advances in the WNIT with a 21-11 record. The Waves will face the winner of Friday's first-round game between Saint Mary's and Hawaii at a location and time to be determined.
"When you have an opportunity to play in the NIT you go for it," Olson said. "You really have to appreciate and respect that, not take it for granted and do the best with the opportunity that you have. These are the kind of games you want to play in, it has a little juice to it. Hopefully we can learn from it and we'll be more prepared next time."
The Lancers ended the regular season by winning 12 of its last 14 games, including nine straight at one point. They finished runner-up in the Western Athletic Conference after coming into the season projected to finish seventh or eighth, which earned Olson the WAC Coach of the Year award.
"Obviously, I am really proud of the season that we had," Olson said. "To finish second in the WAC, we are pretty proud of that and to make the NIT is a really big deal. There are a lot of good teams in this tournament and it's really tough to get into. Making the NIT is going to be a goal, that's something we are going to be working towards. You want to be in postseason play and this is one of the best tournaments to get into."
Britney Thomas led CBU with 21 points, two blocks and a steal over 20 minutes on the floor on Wednesday.
Caitlyn Harper gave the Lancer a dominant one-two punch in the post, with 17 points, six rebounds and a block.
On the perimeter, Ane Olaeta scored 16 points and had four assists and Georgia Dale added eight points, eight assists and five rebounds.
There was little between both teams, as neither team took a lead greater than eight points in the first 34-plus minutes. It was the Lancers who led by eight, 45-37, less than a minute into the third quarter.
It came on the heels of a 14-4 run that carried over from the second quarter. Harper scored eight of CBU's 14 points, while Delacy Brown and Tiena Afu had three each.
Pepperdine responded with a run of its own to take its largest lead of the game, 61-55, with 1:53 left in the third. Dale created two consecutive field goals for the Lancers on an assist to Thomas and a layup for herself. It helped make it a 63-59 deficit for CBU going into the fourth quarter.
Both teams took time to feel each other out in the first quarter, with CBU taking an 18-16 lead at the end of it. Harper led the Lancers over the first 10 minutes with seven points and four rebounds.
Pepperdine scored the first four points of the game, but the Lancers ended the first quarter on an 8-4 run thanks to a three-pointer from Olaeta and converted and-one Harper.
The Waves were led by the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year with 31 points and 15 rebounds. Barbara Sitanggan (14), Deezha Battle (10) and Skye Lindsay (10) all scored in double figures, as well.
"We have a lot of people coming back and hopefully this can give us some experience of what it's like to play against some really good teams in a game that really counts," Olson said. "We will take as many of those experiences as we can right now for a chance to improve and get better."
It was the final collegiate game for two CBU seniors Emma Meriggioli and Kristine Sellona. Meriggioli will go down as one of the most well-rounded players and best shooters in CBU history.
The Madison, Wis. native finishes her career ranking fourth in Lancer history with 129 games played, third with 225 three-pointers made, seventh with 420 assists. She is just the third Lancer to accumulate at least 400 assists and 200 three-pointers in their career.
It was the first-ever national postseason tournament game hosted in the CBU Events Center, and the Lancers became just the second team to qualify for and host the WNIT in its first season in NCAA Division I. The Waves used a strong fourth-quarter run to turn what was a tightly-contested game throughout in a 91-79 win.
"I was really proud of the effort that we gave, especially in the first half we played them really well," Coach Jarrod Olson said. "I thought we fought all the way until the end and just couldn't quite get in rhythm and that's a credit to Pepperdine."
CBU ends its season with an 18-12 record, while Pepperdine advances in the WNIT with a 21-11 record. The Waves will face the winner of Friday's first-round game between Saint Mary's and Hawaii at a location and time to be determined.
"When you have an opportunity to play in the NIT you go for it," Olson said. "You really have to appreciate and respect that, not take it for granted and do the best with the opportunity that you have. These are the kind of games you want to play in, it has a little juice to it. Hopefully we can learn from it and we'll be more prepared next time."
The Lancers ended the regular season by winning 12 of its last 14 games, including nine straight at one point. They finished runner-up in the Western Athletic Conference after coming into the season projected to finish seventh or eighth, which earned Olson the WAC Coach of the Year award.
Thank you Lancers for a magical first season in NCAA Division I, the @WomensNIT and @WACsports. #WNIT| #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/olkGeiggRK
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 21, 2019
"Obviously, I am really proud of the season that we had," Olson said. "To finish second in the WAC, we are pretty proud of that and to make the NIT is a really big deal. There are a lot of good teams in this tournament and it's really tough to get into. Making the NIT is going to be a goal, that's something we are going to be working towards. You want to be in postseason play and this is one of the best tournaments to get into."
Britney Thomas led CBU with 21 points, two blocks and a steal over 20 minutes on the floor on Wednesday.
Spin cycle: activated
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 21, 2019
Britney Thomas dances around her defender for a big field goal. Pepperdine's lead is up to 79-69 with less than three minutes to play, though.#WNIT | #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/2ny4nJClU6
Caitlyn Harper gave the Lancer a dominant one-two punch in the post, with 17 points, six rebounds and a block.
On the perimeter, Ane Olaeta scored 16 points and had four assists and Georgia Dale added eight points, eight assists and five rebounds.
There was little between both teams, as neither team took a lead greater than eight points in the first 34-plus minutes. It was the Lancers who led by eight, 45-37, less than a minute into the third quarter.
It came on the heels of a 14-4 run that carried over from the second quarter. Harper scored eight of CBU's 14 points, while Delacy Brown and Tiena Afu had three each.
In rhythm❗️
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 21, 2019
Tiena Afu trails and then knocks down her second triple and CBU's sixth. The Lancers take their largest lead on the Waves, 41-35. #WNIT | #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/smJmvPytJA
Pepperdine responded with a run of its own to take its largest lead of the game, 61-55, with 1:53 left in the third. Dale created two consecutive field goals for the Lancers on an assist to Thomas and a layup for herself. It helped make it a 63-59 deficit for CBU going into the fourth quarter.
CBU scrapped back within two, 65-63, with 8:32 to play after four-straight points from Olaeta but Pepperdine didn't let the Lancers any closer. The Waves turned a six-point, 79-73 edge with 2:10 remaining into a 12-point win down the stretch.Georgia Dale fuels a 4-0 CBU run with an assist and a layup. It helps the Lancers pull back within four, 63-59, at the end of the third quarter.#WNIT | #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/XB4fpg7O8s
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 21, 2019
Both teams took time to feel each other out in the first quarter, with CBU taking an 18-16 lead at the end of it. Harper led the Lancers over the first 10 minutes with seven points and four rebounds.
Pepperdine scored the first four points of the game, but the Lancers ended the first quarter on an 8-4 run thanks to a three-pointer from Olaeta and converted and-one Harper.
At the end of the first quarter, CBU leads Pepperdine 18-16. The Lancers have made a trio of three-pointers, but hold the lead thanks to this and-one from Caitlyn Harper, who has seven points and four rebounds already.#WNIT | #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/GHoXRHzPhZ
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 21, 2019
The Waves were led by the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year with 31 points and 15 rebounds. Barbara Sitanggan (14), Deezha Battle (10) and Skye Lindsay (10) all scored in double figures, as well.
"We have a lot of people coming back and hopefully this can give us some experience of what it's like to play against some really good teams in a game that really counts," Olson said. "We will take as many of those experiences as we can right now for a chance to improve and get better."
It was the final collegiate game for two CBU seniors Emma Meriggioli and Kristine Sellona. Meriggioli will go down as one of the most well-rounded players and best shooters in CBU history.
The Madison, Wis. native finishes her career ranking fourth in Lancer history with 129 games played, third with 225 three-pointers made, seventh with 420 assists. She is just the third Lancer to accumulate at least 400 assists and 200 three-pointers in their career.
The senior with the 3⃣❗️
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 21, 2019
Emma Meriggioli gets CBU on the board with a huge shot to calm the nerves. The Lancers trail the Waves 4-3 in the opening minutes.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/a1Pk7zKzkN
Team Stats
PEP
CalBap
FG%
.440
.492
3FG%
.300
.400
FT%
.815
.625
RB
52
31
TO
13
18
STL
9
6
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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