California Baptist University
28-3,18-2WAC
Stephen F. Austin
22-12,14-6WAC
CBU Women's Basketball Wins The WAC Tournament over SFA, Earns Trip to March Madness
3/16/2024 2:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS - Four years since winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time, the California Baptist University women's basketball team has claimed their second title, this time able to accept the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Lancers took to the Orleans Arena early Saturday morning for their tilt against 3-seed Stephen F. Austin. The Ladyjacks led most of the way, but the Lancers persevered and chipped away an 11-point deficit to ultimately earn the 75-74 win.
Chloe Webb posted her second double-double of the tournament, this time putting up a monstrous 24 points and 15 rebounds. Her tournament averages of 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds made her the clear choice for Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Anaiyah Tu'ua gave Webb a run for her money in the MOP discussion after averaging 19 points per contest in Las Vegas. However, she still earned All-Tournament honors for her stats and undeniable intangible effort. Tu'ua was no slouch on Saturday, posting 22 points, five boards, and four steals against SFA.
The win puts CBU in uncharted but welcomed waters as the focus now shifts to who they will be matched up against in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Jarrod Olson has now led the Lancers to four NCAA postseasons in 12 years despite six of those years where CBU was ineligible for NCAA postseason contention due to transition periods.
A slow start from the field held CBU back to begin the game, shooting just 1-7 from the field and 0-5 from distance when the first media timeout came around. The Lancers settled into their style after the TV timeout, hitting two of their next three shots, a pair of free throws, and holding SFA to just 1-3 in the moments following. Despite holding the Ladyjacks to just 1-6 in the final five minutes of the first, SFA would still cling to a 15-13 lead after one.
The second quarter started with a Kinsley Barrington layup, but went the way of the Ladyjacks after that. SFA would go on two 6-0 runs, broken up by a pair of CBU layups, to build a 29-19 lead midway through the second quarter.
After getting through a testing first half, the Lancers took over early in the second half, going on a 12-2 run in just over three minutes to force an SFA timeout when the game was tied at 41-all. CBU would hold a handful of two-point leads during the period but would ultimately trail by five after Tu'ua couldn't get a buzzer-beater to fall.
With just ten minutes left to decide the WAC's automatic qualifier, the Lancers leaned on their two All-Tournament players, Webb and Tu'ua, to guide them through. The pair combined for 14 of CBU's 27 fourth-quarter points, and each hit two free throws with 21 seconds or less. It was only fitting that Webb, the newly crowned WAC Player of the Year, sank the final two free throws with just :07 seconds left to put CBU up by four, sealing the victory.
The season continues next week with the program's first-ever trip to NCAA March Madness. The official Selection Sunday shows the women's bracket will air live on CBU at 5:00 p.m. A watch party is planned for the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center on Sunday afternoon at 4:45 p.m.
