California Baptist University
5-0,0-0WAC
Portland
3-2,0-0WCC
CBU Reaches 5-0 After Pre-Thanksgiving Showdown with Portland
11/22/2023 5:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE - California Baptist women's basketball prevailed in a game of huge back-and-forth swings on Wednesday night, grounding the Portland Pilots by a score of 71-66. The Lancers remain perfect on the season, now boasting a 5-0 record after defeating the 15th-ranked team in the most recent CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top-25 Poll.
The Lancers remain the only undefeated Western Athletic Conference team heading into the holiday break, still led by the offensive prowess of Chloe Webb. The senior from San Diego is leading the conference in scoring at just under 21 points per game so far and leading the team with eight rebounds and three steals per game.
Portland had an obvious size advantage, carrying 10 players listed at six feet tall or better, and used it well. The Pilots blocked 11 shots on the night, the most CBU has allowed since Idaho State posted that exact total in December of 2019. To counter that, the Lancers shot 60% (9-15) from distance, their best single-game percentage since joining Division I in 2018-19.
Tonight's fans watched as Portland won the first and third quarters decisively, 18-12 and 22-12, while the Lancers dominated quarters two and four, 25-11 and 22-15. The difference in the game came from beyond the arc as the Lancer defense held the Pilots to just 5-26 (19%).
Webb led all scorers today with 21, her fourth-straight game of at least 20+, already matching her total from the entire 2021-22 season. Webb also pulled down a team-high 10 boards to record her second double-double of the season. Grace Schmidt was the only other Lancer in double figures against Portland, pouring in 13 on 50% shooting and overcoming the trees in the paint. Anaiyah Tu'ua battled early foul trouble to still put up a full statline of six points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
CBU is off for the long holiday weekend but will return to an early start to the conference season. The Lancers travel to Cedar City next week for a rematch of last season's WAC Tournament Championship game against Southern Utah on Tuesday, November 28, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time.
