California Baptist University
Utah Valley University
WBB Preview: CBU Hosts a Trio of Games in Riverside to Open Conference Play
12/27/2025 11:43:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University women's basketball team will open up its Western Athletic Conference schedule this week as it hosts a trio of games in Riverside.
The Lancers finished non-conference action on December 21 in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a loss against the #23 Nebraska Cornhuskers to finalize their early-season record at 6-7. CBU still sits in second place among WAC schools in the NET rankings behind Abilene Christian, which is currently 104th.
Conference play will open up on Monday, December 29, across the WAC, and the Lancers will begin their final season in the conference for a 6 PM tip-off against the Utah Valley Wolverines. UVU is currently sitting in second place in the conference standings at 7-4 and has impressive wins over LMU, Pepperdine, and UMKC. The Lancers have dominated the season series over the Wolverines historically, with 11 of the 14 matchups going in their favor. Despite the lopsided record, UVU has won two of the last three matchups, both of which took place in Orem. CBU has yet to lose to UVU at home in the seven-year history between the two squads.
The Wolverines rank #1 in the NCAA in forcing turnovers and creating steals, doing so at 29.45 and 18.1 per contest, respectively. The nearly 30 turnovers forced per game are almost two turnovers higher than any other team in the NCAA. UVU is being led by senior Amanda Barcello, who averages 14 points per game, which is the 5th best in the conference, and also leads the conference in three-pointers made per game, at over three per contest. Barcello scored a season-high 19 points in a home win over Pepperdine.
The second game of the week will be a New Year's Day showdown with UT Arlington. The Mavericks eliminated the Lancers in WACVegas last season in the quarterfinals with a 72-66 at the Orleans Arena. In the overall series, the Lancers are 6-2 against the Mavericks. CBU has yet to lose to UTA at home in the series history, but the Mavericks have won each of the last two matchups. Before coming to Riverside, UTA will travel to Stephenville to face the Tarleton Texans in its WAC opener. The Mavericks currently sit at 6-6 and have faced one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country, with losses to Colorado, Texas A&M, #5 LSU, Houston, and Rice.
The final contest of the week will be a Saturday matchup with the Tarleton Texans. The Texans will have two prior games before venturing to Riverside with a home game against UTA and a road contest at Utah Valley. The Texans currently sit in fourth in the conference standings at 6-5 and are winners of four of their last five games. CBU is 7-1 against Tarleton overall, with its only loss coming on the road last season. The Texans are a top rebounding team in the country, ranking 40th in total rebounding and 19th in defensive rebounding.
The Lancers will begin conference play as one of the best defensive teams in the country. CBU is 21st in the NCAA in blocks per game, 10th in defensive rebounding, 27th in total rebounding, and 53rd in field goal percentage defense. A large reason for the rankings has been the play of Emma Johansson, who is top 8 in the country in blocks (37) and blocks per game (2.85). Johansson is also top 50 in rebounding (8.5) and double-doubles (4).
MATCHUP INFORMATION:
GAME 1: CBU vs Utah Valley
WHEN: December 29- 6 PM
WHERE: Riverside, CA- Fowler Events Center
WATCH: ESPN+
GAME 2: CBU vs UT Arlington
WHEN: January 1- 1 PM
WHERE: Riverside, CA- Fowler Events Center
WATCH: ESPN+
GAME 3: CBU vs Tarleton State
WHEN: January 3- 1 PM
WHERE: Riverside, CA- Fowler Events Center
WATCH: ESPN+
