RIVERSIDE – After weather issues caused an hour-and-a-half delay to the start of Saturday's game, California Baptist women's basketball put on a show for the faithful crowd, rallying from being down 10 in the fourth quarter to defeat Utah Tech, 75-71.
CBU received a historic effort from sophomore Trinity San Antonio, who posted the program's first NCAA-era triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. This was an all-heart triple-double as nine of San Antonio's 10 rebounds came on the offensive end, and throwing in six steals to the end of her magnificent game.
Grace Schmidt (15 points), Chloe Webb (14), and Filipa Barros (12) all reached double-digit scoring against the Trailblazers, all contributing when the team needed the boost. Schmidt added 10 rebounds, notching the second double-double of her stellar freshman season.
The first quarter showed that the teams may have felt that delayed start, scoring just 11 points each, shooting at a combined 23.5% clip. The second quarter saw the teams get back into rhythm, as the Lancers outscored the Trailblazers by seven to take a 37-30 lead into halftime.
The Trailblazers came out of halftime on fire, going on a 10-4 run early and a 13-2 run late to close the third quarter up 55-50. They would build that lead to as much as 10 points, twice, in the fourth quarter, but a pair of back-to-back three-pointers from Filips Barros before the final media timeout cut the Utah Tech lead to just two.
San Antonio continued attacking the rim, but Webb rose up in the final moments, scoring from deep, finishing and-one's, and hitting her final two free throws with under two seconds left to officially put this one away.
The win pushes the CBU win streak to five in a row as the Lancers now sit at 16-11 on the year and 12-4 in the conference. Along with Grand Canyon's loss to UT Arlington earlier on Saturday, the win gives CBU sole possession of third place in the regular season standings and a mathematical chance still to claim at least a piece of the title. Southern Utah, who the Lancers will play next, and Stephen F. Austin still have an advantage in the standings with just two games left to play in the regular season.
Up next for the Lancers is the season's final road trip, a short trip to play one game at Southern Utah on Tuesday, February 28, with a start time set for 5:30 p.m. Pacific.
