Olaeta Leads Lancers Past Pepperdine, 75-67; CBU Now 7-0

Tuesday, December 15

Malibu, Calif.

5 PM

California Baptist University

7-0,0-0WAC

Pepperdine

3-1,0-0WCC

California Baptist

Pepperdine

Olaeta Leads Lancers Past Pepperdine, 75-67; CBU Now 7-0

12/15/2020 10:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

MALIBU, CALIF. – Both California Baptist University and Pepperdine came into tonight's game with unblemished records, but it was the Lancers who remained perfect, defeating the Waves 75-67 in Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Lancers are now 7-0, matching their season-opening streak from a season ago, and extending their winning streak to 10 games dating back to last season. The 10-game winning streak now stands alone as the eighth-longest in the nation. Pepperdine dropped to 3-1.

Ane Olaeta again proved why she was selected as the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, as she led the Lancers to victory with 14 points, nine assists, and five steals. Three of the thefts came in the third quarter, helping lead the charge during a 12-2 run that extended the Lancer lead to 53-36 with 5:55 remaining in the period. The 17-point margin was the largest lead of the night for CBU.

The lead proved to be too much for the Waves to overcome. Pepperdine cut the Lancer lead to six points twice, but timely buckets and defensive stops down the stretch secured the win for CBU.

Olaeta's night was highlighted by a half-court buzzer-beater to end the first quarter which lifted the Lancers lead to four at the break. The 47-foot bucket was later featured on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays. It came on the heels of a Waves basket with under five seconds to play which seemed to be the final score of the frame, but Olaeta took the inbounds pass, a few dribbles, and squared up near the Pepperdine logo and flushed the shot as the CBU bench erupted.

#⃣🔟 "Center-cut Pork Chop!" The Lancers made it on @SportsCenter Top 10 Plays of the Day!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/9taAr9uBeX
— CBU W. Basketball 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (@CBUwbb) December 16, 2020

Caitlyn Harper continued her streak of great play after being named the WAC Player of the Week last week, recording team-highs in points (18), rebounds (7), and blocks (3). Taylor Wu (15), Nicole Avila-Ambrosi (12) and Tiena Neale (11) also scored in double-figures and were a combined 42.1 percent (8-19) from beyond the arc.

Pro tip: don't leave Nicole Avila-Ambrosi wiiiiiide open #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/4sYIiMTT7f
— CBU W. Basketball 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (@CBUwbb) December 16, 2020

ROLE REVERSAL

For the first time this season the Lancers were out-shot by their opponent, going 28-68 (41.2%) from the field and 12-31 (38.7%) from three-point land, while Pepperdine recorded marks of 24-54 (44.4%) and 6-14 (42.9%), respectively. CBU got it done in other ways though, taking advantage of the Waves' 20 turnovers, a season-high, and turning them into 24 points.

HIGHS AND LOWS

CBU recorded a season-low 31 rebounds in Malibu, but compensated with another season-low in turnovers with just nine. Including tonight, the Lancers' assist-to-turnover ratio is a very respectable 1.6, currently ranking ninth in all of Division I.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lancers will host the Mustangs of Cal Poly on Saturday, Dec. 19, at he CBU Events Center as they go for their eighth-straight win to open this season. Tip-off for that game is set for 2 p.m.