RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University women's basketball moved to 5-0 all-time against UC Santa Barbara with Saturday's 69-63 home victory over the Gauchos. Every Lancer who got on the court made it into the scoring column, with five Lancers' going for nine or more, led by Sila Finau, who recorded a game-high 19.
The Gauchos led by one after 10 minutes, having led basically the entire opening quarter, but the Lancers opened the second on a 14-4 run and never trailed again.
Grace Schmidt powered that run, pouring in eight of her 14 points during that stretch to help CBU build a 10-point cushion going into halftime.
The Lancers continued to build on that lead, going up by 13 by the end of the third. They would lead by as much as 17 in the final frame. The Gauchos turned up the heat in the fourth, using their best shooting quarter of the game (47.4%) to cut the deficit to just four before the Lancers shut the door by draining late free throws to seal the victory.
Finau's 19 points are not only her CBU best but her collegiate career personal best as well, having peaked at 15 points her senior year at Colorado against Oregon.
Dorcas Wu put up nine points, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in her first start of the year, while
Nae Nae Calhoun shook off a blow to the head in the third quarter to finish with nine points and three steals.
Chloe Webb nearly posted her first double-double as a Lancer, stuffing the stat sheet with nine points, nine boards, four steals, and a block.
With the win, the CBU non-conference record improves to 3-6, while the Gauchos now sit at 5-3. The Lancers' next test will pit them against a third-straight Big West opponent as they bus west to Orange County to take on Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, December 17th, at 6 p.m.
