Thursday, March 10
Las Vegas, Nev.
2:30 PM
California Baptist University
23-7,13-5WAC
85
vs
78
#6 Sam Houston
15-16,9-9WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Sam Houston
18
16
26
18
78
California Baptist
18
14
27
26
85
Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com
Olaeta, Harper Lead CBU To WAC Tournament Win Over Sam Houston
3/10/2022 4:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS – Fans were treated to an incredible game on Thursday afternoon, as California Baptist University brought the best offense in the conference up against one of the league's toughest defenses in Sam Houston. The Lancers would earn the 85-78 victory on the back of great outings by Caitlyn Harper and Ane Olaeta, who combined for 47 of the Lancers' 85 points.
The Lancers improve to 23-7 on the year, and 3-0 all-time in the WAC Tournament. Sam Houston State's season comes to a close with a record of 15-16 overall and 9-9 in its debut season in the WAC. Despite being outrebounded 44-32 during the game, CBU used hot shooting, going 32-55 (58.2 percent) from the field and dominant paint play, outscoring the Bearkats 54-32 inside, to earn the win.
Olaeta had a monster game, pouring in 23 points and 10 assists for her seventh double-double of the season. She filled the stat sheet by also grabbing seven rebounds and flashing the skill that earned her Defensive Player of the Year by swiping seven steals. Harper collected her 20th career 20-plus point game, finishing with 24 points to go with five rebounds, two steals, a block and shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe.
Nicole Avila-Ambrosi was the only other Lancer to break through double-digits, doing so for the third time in the past four games. Britney Thomas saw action in today's quarterfinal win after not appearing in the team's final two regular-season games, scoring nine points on 4-5 shooting in 10 minutes of action.
A tight first quarter never saw either team with a lead of more than three points as the teams ended the period knotted at 18. Conference scoring champion Caitlyn Harper posted seven points in the first quarter, showing off her ability on the inside and from distance.
The second quarter was the Ane Olaeta show as the newly minted Defensive Player of the Year took over on offense, scoring eight points on 4-5 shooting. A late run by the Bearkats would give them a 34-32 lead at halftime.
Guard play was huge for CBU after the break, with Avila-Ambrosi scoring nine of her 11 points in the third, and Olaeta backing her up with eight of her own. Sydney Palma would toss in five in the quarter, including a timely three pointer to get the Lancers the lead back with 8:24 to go.
The Lancers were locked in offensively during the third, shooting 12-14 from the field on their way to a 27-point quarter. The Bearkats kept pace though, scoring 26 to maintain a one-point advantage going into the final period.
As has been the case for most of this season, Harper took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points as CBU pulled away from Sam Houston. The Lancers would go on a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the fourth, building the largest lead for either team to that point at 71-64 with 5:02 to go in the game.
Sam Houston made a late push, clawing back to make it a one-possession game at 78-75 with under a minute left in the fourth. However, Harper and Olaeta would close out the game by scoring the final eight points for CBU, four apiece, capping an impressive 85-point effort against a Bearkat defense that allowed just 68.6 points per game on the season.
UP NEXT
The Lancers now prepare to face Grand Canyon for the third time this season in the upcoming WAC Tournament semifinals. The Lancers and Lopes are set to tip off at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The Lancers improve to 23-7 on the year, and 3-0 all-time in the WAC Tournament. Sam Houston State's season comes to a close with a record of 15-16 overall and 9-9 in its debut season in the WAC. Despite being outrebounded 44-32 during the game, CBU used hot shooting, going 32-55 (58.2 percent) from the field and dominant paint play, outscoring the Bearkats 54-32 inside, to earn the win.
Olaeta had a monster game, pouring in 23 points and 10 assists for her seventh double-double of the season. She filled the stat sheet by also grabbing seven rebounds and flashing the skill that earned her Defensive Player of the Year by swiping seven steals. Harper collected her 20th career 20-plus point game, finishing with 24 points to go with five rebounds, two steals, a block and shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe.
Ane Olaeta is filling up the stat sheet!!!
She records her seventh steal of the game (ties DI program single-game record) and dishes out her seventh assist of the night with this beauty! #LanceUp⚔ | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/nAhJmicXe9— California Baptist Women's Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 10, 2022
Nicole Avila-Ambrosi was the only other Lancer to break through double-digits, doing so for the third time in the past four games. Britney Thomas saw action in today's quarterfinal win after not appearing in the team's final two regular-season games, scoring nine points on 4-5 shooting in 10 minutes of action.
A tight first quarter never saw either team with a lead of more than three points as the teams ended the period knotted at 18. Conference scoring champion Caitlyn Harper posted seven points in the first quarter, showing off her ability on the inside and from distance.
Push the pace!
Trinity San Antonio finds Caitlyn Harper to finish the first quarter tied up with the Bearkats!#LanceUp⚔ | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/zV9HCG6rgD— California Baptist Women's Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 10, 2022
The second quarter was the Ane Olaeta show as the newly minted Defensive Player of the Year took over on offense, scoring eight points on 4-5 shooting. A late run by the Bearkats would give them a 34-32 lead at halftime.
Guard play was huge for CBU after the break, with Avila-Ambrosi scoring nine of her 11 points in the third, and Olaeta backing her up with eight of her own. Sydney Palma would toss in five in the quarter, including a timely three pointer to get the Lancers the lead back with 8:24 to go.
The Lancers were locked in offensively during the third, shooting 12-14 from the field on their way to a 27-point quarter. The Bearkats kept pace though, scoring 26 to maintain a one-point advantage going into the final period.
Sydney Palma takes dead aim 🎯#LanceUp⚔ | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/0kIY0Yb0L8— California Baptist Women's Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 10, 2022
As has been the case for most of this season, Harper took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points as CBU pulled away from Sam Houston. The Lancers would go on a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the fourth, building the largest lead for either team to that point at 71-64 with 5:02 to go in the game.
Sam Houston made a late push, clawing back to make it a one-possession game at 78-75 with under a minute left in the fourth. However, Harper and Olaeta would close out the game by scoring the final eight points for CBU, four apiece, capping an impressive 85-point effort against a Bearkat defense that allowed just 68.6 points per game on the season.
UP NEXT
The Lancers now prepare to face Grand Canyon for the third time this season in the upcoming WAC Tournament semifinals. The Lancers and Lopes are set to tip off at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Team Stats
SHSU
CBU
FG%
.375
.582
3FG%
.333
.294
FT%
.667
.762
RB
44
32
TO
20
19
STL
12
16
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
23
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballF
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