HUNTSVILLE – California Baptist University traveled to Huntsville to take on Sam Houston for the first time in program history, but the Bearkats would claim the first victory in the series, winning by a score of 73-65.

The result brings CBU's record to 15-3 on the year and 6-1 in the Western Athletic Conference, where they are in second place in the standings behind Stephen F. Austin, who took care of business against Seattle U earlier tonight to move to 7-0 in league play.

Ane Olaeta led the Lancers with 17 points, with Caitlyn Harper (16) and Sydney Palma (14) not far behind. Olaeta and Harper each added five steals on the night, which tied a season-high for Olaeta and set a new career-best for Harper.

The Lancers had the unfortunate luck to go against Faith Cook on a night where she would set a new career-high mark with 32 points, 15 of which came at the free throw line. Sam Houston got another milestone game, this one coming from Madelyn Batista who grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds for a Bearkats team who out-rebounded the Lancers 44-29.

CBU led in many areas of the game including dominant performances in the paint where they won that scoring battle 34-26, and on the run, outscoring Sam Houston 31-11 in fast break points. However, shortcomings from three-point land and the free throw line were ultimately too much for the Lancers to overcome.

UP NEXT

California Baptist is now set to take on first-place Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches on Saturday. The Ladyjacks and the Lancers are set to tip-off at 12 pm Pacific.