California Baptist University
16-2,8-1WAC
Stephen F. Austin
13-7,7-2WAC
A Historic Performance from a Trio of Lancers Drives CBU Past Stephen F. Austin
1/27/2024 5:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE - The top two scoring offenses in the Western Athletic Conference met in Riverside on Saturday, as California Baptist women's basketball ran away with a 97-75 victory over Stephen F. Austin. CBU improves to 16-2 on the season and sits just half a game behind Grand Canyon for the top spot in the regular season WAC standing.
SFA's offense played to its average of 75.9 points per game, but the Lancers exceeded their average by nearly 20 points behind 90.5% (19-21) shooting from the free throw line, 34.1% (14-41) from deep, and +12 and +22 advantages in points in the paint and fast break points, respectively.
Chloe Webb, Khloe Lemon, and Filipa Barros, arguably the most formidable backcourt in the conference, became the first Lancer trio to top 20 points in the same game in the Division I era, combining for 69 of CBU's 97 points.
Webb posted a game-high 24 points, going 6-6 from the stripe and filling out her stat line with six boards, four assists, two steals, and just one turnover. Lemon got the Lancers to the finish line, scoring 17 of her 23 in the second half.
Barros continued to capitalize on her best streak of basketball as a Lancer, posting her third double-double in the past four games with 22 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Kinsley Barrington also put up big numbers with her first double-double of the season at 17 points and 11 boards.
The first quarter was not a good predictor of the game as CBU trailed after the first ten minutes, 14-12. Both teams struggled to find a good offensive rhythm early, shooting a combined 8-37 (21.6%) from the field. The Lancers stormed into the lead in the second quarter, opening the frame on a 13-2 run to take a lead they would never give back. Ultimately, the Ladyjacks made more free throws (eight) than field goals (four) in the second quarter as they watched CBU drain five three-pointers and pull away to a 38-32 lead at halftime.
After halftime, CBU put together one of the best quarters of basketball they've played all season. The Lancers scored a single-quarter season-high 34 points on 61.1% shooting from the field and went 9-9 from the charity stripe while holding SFA to just 14 points on 4-18 (22.2%) shooting. CBU's 34 points is the most SFA has allowed to a WAC opponent in one quarter since joining the league in 2021.
The Ladyjacks did their best to rally in the fourth quarter, cutting a 28-point margin to 15 with 2:45 left, but the Lancers would close the game on a 10-3 run to secure the victory.
The Lancers have defended their home court in all nine opportunities so far this season but take the show back on the road next week for a single game at Seattle U on Saturday, February 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in the Emerald City.
