California Baptist University
#2 Southern Utah
The Championship Stage is Set: CBU vs Southern Utah
3/10/2023 7:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS--- The stage is set for the Western Athletic Conference Championship, with California Baptist slated to take on the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds won the WAC regular season crown after a 16-2 conference record, but due to the WAC resume seeding system, they were the #2 seed in the tournament.
The Lancers won the WAC championships in 2021 after an undefeated regular season but were not eligible to participate in the NCAA tournament due to NCAA transition rules. This season marks the first year CBU would be eligible to go dancing. Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds are in their first year of competition on the WAC and will look to reach their first-ever postseason tournament in their division-1 history.
LAST TIME WE MET:
California Baptist and Southern Utah had their first-ever meeting this season when CBU traveled to Cedar City in late February. The Thunderbirds won that matchup in a high-scoring battle 83-75. Trinity San Antonio was the leading scorer for CBU in that game with 17 points on 50 % shooting, while Thunderbird guard Tomekia Whitman led all scorers with 25 on the night.
SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
CBU defeated the top-seeded Stephen F. Austin Lady Jacks 69-64 in the semifinal round. The win marked the first time SFA had lost multiple games to one opponent in the same season since 2018, when they dropped two to UT Arlington in the Southland Conference. The Lancers led by 16 at the half and pulled out the win behind Chloe Webb and Filipa Barros combining for 30 off the bench.
Southern Utah dominated Grand Canyon in their semifinal matchup with a 64-51 win. The Thunderbirds had three players in double-figures, led by Megan Jensen with 22 points and eight rebounds. Southern Utah never trailed after the opening quarter and led by as many as 20 in the contest.
NOTABLES:
- Both teams hit the glass hard, with Southern Utah currently ranked 16th in the nation in total rebounding and CBU ranked 17th in defensive rebound per game.
- CBU is #3 in the country in putting up triples, averaging nearly 30 per game
- Southern Utah is 15th in the nation in blocked shots, led by Lizzie Williamson, who averages 2.33 per game.
- CBU's Trinity San Antonio and Grace Schmidt were named to the All-WAC teams with a first and second distinction, respectively.
GAME TIME:
The WAC Championship game between CBU and Southern Utah will be played on Saturday, March 11th, at 3:30 p.m. PT in the Orleans Arena.
