WBB Preview: Lancers Set to Duel Aztecs, Highlanders

Wednesday, December 2

San Diego, Calif.

2 PM

California Baptist University

San Diego State University

WBB Preview: Lancers Set to Duel Aztecs, Highlanders

11/30/2020 3:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE – An impressive opening week saw California Baptist University women's basketball start the 2020-21 season with two wins, with an average margin of victory of 34 points.

Coming off wins over Fresno Pacific (90-39) and UC Irvine (72-55), the Lancers now prepare for two tough games this week. They start on the road at San Diego State on Wednesday, Dec. 2 and finish at home for the Crosstown Showdown versus UC Riverside on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Early in the season, CBU is being led by two predictable names in Ane Olaeta and Britney Thomas, both of whom have started each game and backed up their Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference accolades. Caitlyn Harper and freshman Nicole Avila-Ambrosi are also making big impacts coming off the bench. Thomas (13.5), Avila-Ambrosi (12.5), Olaeta (11.5) and Harper (9.5) are the Lancers' top-four scorers, while also among the team leaders in nearly every other major statistical category.

Despite a small sample size, the Lancers look stout defensively, as they have allowed a combined shooting percentage of just 21.5 percent from the floor and an even lower 12.5 percent from beyond the arc in their two games thus far. CBU's 13 steals per game so far rank sixth in the nation among teams that are undefeated, behind TCU, Auburn, Colorado, Kentucky and Texas.

2⃣-0⃣‼️ The Lancers take game two of the season over UC Irvine 72-55! CBU was led by seniors Britney Thomas (10p, 9r) and Ane Olaeta (17p, 7r, 5a).#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/pKR6nyKbgX
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) November 29, 2020

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: at San Diego State
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 2
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Viejas Arena
Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

The Aztecs are 1-1 on the young season, but were just a late shot away from a potential victory over Washington in their season opener. San Diego State took part in the South Point Thanksgiving Classic in Las Vegas, where it overcame Lamar University in game two by a score of 60-54.

Last season saw the Aztecs finish with a 14-17 overall record and a 9-9 tally in the Mountain West Conference. SDSU got the victory over the Lancers last season in Riverside on the back of a 30-point effort from Sophia Ramos, who is now a junior averaging 19.5 points per game during the 2020-21 slate.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: vs UC Riverside
Date: Saturday, Dec. 5
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: CBU Events Center
Video: WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

The Crosstown Showdown will see its third iteration as a Division I clash on Saturday, with the previous two contests being won by the home team. Last year, the Highlanders took over the boards and took the game at SRC Arena on the campus of UC Riverside.

Britney Thomas loved her previous time playing against UC Riverside back in December of 2018, as she filled up the box score with 21 points and 20 rebounds against the Highlanders. Last season, Olaeta did all she could to will her Lancers to victory as she put up 19 points and eight assists.