CBU Erupts Offensively to Defeat #19 Azusa Pacific, 15-9

Thursday, March 18

Riverside, Calif.

3 PM

California Baptist University

0-8, 0-2

Azusa Pacific

1-1, 1-1

Azusa Pacific

California Baptist

CBU Erupts Offensively to Defeat #19 Azusa Pacific, 15-9

3/18/2021 5:22:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University women's water polo erupted for a season-high 15 goals to defeat 19^th-ranked Azusa Pacific at the Lancer Aquatics Center on Thursday.

The 21^st-ranked Lancers got five goals from Kira O'Donell, three more from Jamie Hutton and two big goals from Madison East in the win, while five others scored to give CBU eight players with a goal in the Golden Coast Conference game.

🥵🥵🥵

Kira O'Donell is heating up, with four goals through three quarters.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/QjDZ8GeJTt
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) March 18, 2021

O'Donell put together another all-around game, with three steals, two assists and two drawn ejections, including a penalty. It was the seventh five-goal game of her career and second of the season.

Ball movement was key to CBU's offensive outburst, as 12 of its 15 goals came off assists. East and Katie Fugit also had two assists on Thursday, while a total of seven Lancers had an assist. Madison Gerg put together a strong game in the cage for CBU, as well, with eight saves on the day.

🙅 DENIED 🙅

Madison Gerg comes up with her seventh save in this one.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/isUvghC7ft
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) March 18, 2021

CBU secures its first win of the season after a very challenging start. After seven road games and six top-10 games, the Lancers are now 1-8 and 1-1 in the GCC. APU drops to 1-2 overall and in conference.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT
There was little separation between both sides early on, as CBU held a one-goal edge, 4-3, at the end of the first quarter. Maddie Schwegler, Hutton, Kyndall Burrell and East all scored in the first quarter.

Madison East steps in and 🔥🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/jSf5HDgtHe
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) March 18, 2021

The Lancers started creating some distance in the second quarter. They used a 4-0 run fueled by goals from O'Donell, Hutton, East and Vicky Martinez to take a 9-4 lead with 25 seconds left in the first half.

CBU never let the Cougars back within more than four goals, as it had an answer for every APU goal the rest of the way. The Lancers led by as many as seven, 14-7, when O'Donell scored her fifth with 7:04 to play. It was part of a 5-1 run that included three goals from O'Donell and Hutton's third goal of the game.

🎩🎩🎩

Jamie Hutton rings one in from WAY outside for the hat trick.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/oYogaJls9W
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) March 18, 2021

UP NEXT
The Lancers will look to create their first winning streak of the season, with a non-conference doubleheader up next against Fresno Pacific on Saturday. Game times are set for noon and 2:30 p.m. back at the Lancer Aquatics Center.