Friday, March 10
Anchorage, AK
3:30 PM
California Baptist University
32-2
85
vs
79
Point Loma
24-6
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Point Loma
18
15
13
24
9
79
California Baptist
27
8
19
16
15
85
Photo by: Skip Hickey
Putting In Extra Work
3/10/2017 9:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Despite the cold weather, No. 3-ranked California Baptist University stayed hot in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament, defeating Point Loma 85-79 in overtime.
CBU's win streak increases to 29 games in a row as it moves to 32-2 overall, while Point Loma ends their season at 24-6.
The Lancers relied heavily on the senior dynamic duo of Cassidy Mihalko (26 points, 11 rebounds, two steals) and Kamille Diaz (18 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists) to lead the charge, while Courtney Nelson and Tori Mitchell added 12 points apiece and combined for 14 total rebounds. Mihalko made more history in the win, scoring her 2,159th career point to become the PacWest's all-time leading scorer.
Going into the game, it was familiar territory for both squads seeing as this was the third time the conference rivals would face one another in only three weeks time, fourth time this year. Twice the two teams went into overtime, but all four times CBU came out victorious.
The Lancers came out on fire and took a 12-5 lead within the first minute and a half of the game to establish early momentum. CBU continued to build on its lead and ended the first quarter with a 27-18 cushion. Mihalko was the fuel to the fire, posting 11 of her 26 total points in the first quarter alone.
Mitchell opened the second quarter with two from the charity stripe to increase the Lancers' lead to 29-18. However, Point Loma responded with consecutive jumper and three-pointer possessions to cut the Lancers' lead to five, 35-30, with 3:10 remaining in the first half. Point Loma built on that momentum and pulled within two, 35-33, going into the break.
PLNU opened the second half with back-to-back jumpers to take over the lead and fill the Sea Lion bench with hope. It would be the only Sea Lion lead for the rest of regulation, however, as Mihalko responded with a jump shot in the paint from an Emma Meriggioli pass and then sunk a trey in the following possession, allowing the Lancers to regain the lead, 40-37.
The Sea Lions would not give in just yet, though. They tied the game again, 44-44, with 4:06 left in the frame. Resilient to take the lead, CBU responded with back-to-back threes from Olivia Weber and Diaz, thus gaining a major momentum shift and a 54-46 cushion with 44 seconds left in the third.
Desperate to keep their season alive, Point Loma struck back to come within two, 57-55, three minutes into the fourth. CBU relied on its veterans once again, and a Nelson three-pointer brought some fire for the Lancers at the 5:45 mark, distancing themselves from the Sea Lions, 61-57.
Point Loma battled back and pulled within two, 63-61, but Diaz drew a foul and sunk two from the free throw line to make it 65-61 with a little under three minutes remaining in regulation.
Down by three, but not willing to give up yet, Point Loma stole the ball away with 11 seconds left and immediately called a timeout. The Sea Lions went for the three-point attempt off the in-bound play, and drew a Lancer foul on the shot, sinking all three free throws to tie the game at 70-70 with six seconds left.
CBU quickly inbounded the ball, and Diaz went up for a jumper in the paint as time expired, but unfortunately just missed, causing the game to go into overtime.
With only five minutes on the clock to decide who would advance to round two of the Division II West Regional Tournament, it was evident that both teams would leave it all on the court.
Point Loma got things started with a jumpshot in the paint, thus taking its first lead since the third quarter, 72-70. Diaz quickly responded with a deep three, followed by a dish to Mitchell on a give-and-go play to give the Lancers a 75-72 cushion. The Sea Lions began to foul in order to slow the clock, but it would not be enough to catch the Lancers, who pulled out the 85-79 win.
CBU advances to play third-seeded Western Washington (26-5) in Saturday's first regional semifinal at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time.
CBU's win streak increases to 29 games in a row as it moves to 32-2 overall, while Point Loma ends their season at 24-6.
The Lancers relied heavily on the senior dynamic duo of Cassidy Mihalko (26 points, 11 rebounds, two steals) and Kamille Diaz (18 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists) to lead the charge, while Courtney Nelson and Tori Mitchell added 12 points apiece and combined for 14 total rebounds. Mihalko made more history in the win, scoring her 2,159th career point to become the PacWest's all-time leading scorer.
Going into the game, it was familiar territory for both squads seeing as this was the third time the conference rivals would face one another in only three weeks time, fourth time this year. Twice the two teams went into overtime, but all four times CBU came out victorious.
The Lancers came out on fire and took a 12-5 lead within the first minute and a half of the game to establish early momentum. CBU continued to build on its lead and ended the first quarter with a 27-18 cushion. Mihalko was the fuel to the fire, posting 11 of her 26 total points in the first quarter alone.
Mitchell opened the second quarter with two from the charity stripe to increase the Lancers' lead to 29-18. However, Point Loma responded with consecutive jumper and three-pointer possessions to cut the Lancers' lead to five, 35-30, with 3:10 remaining in the first half. Point Loma built on that momentum and pulled within two, 35-33, going into the break.
PLNU opened the second half with back-to-back jumpers to take over the lead and fill the Sea Lion bench with hope. It would be the only Sea Lion lead for the rest of regulation, however, as Mihalko responded with a jump shot in the paint from an Emma Meriggioli pass and then sunk a trey in the following possession, allowing the Lancers to regain the lead, 40-37.
The Sea Lions would not give in just yet, though. They tied the game again, 44-44, with 4:06 left in the frame. Resilient to take the lead, CBU responded with back-to-back threes from Olivia Weber and Diaz, thus gaining a major momentum shift and a 54-46 cushion with 44 seconds left in the third.
Desperate to keep their season alive, Point Loma struck back to come within two, 57-55, three minutes into the fourth. CBU relied on its veterans once again, and a Nelson three-pointer brought some fire for the Lancers at the 5:45 mark, distancing themselves from the Sea Lions, 61-57.
Point Loma battled back and pulled within two, 63-61, but Diaz drew a foul and sunk two from the free throw line to make it 65-61 with a little under three minutes remaining in regulation.
Down by three, but not willing to give up yet, Point Loma stole the ball away with 11 seconds left and immediately called a timeout. The Sea Lions went for the three-point attempt off the in-bound play, and drew a Lancer foul on the shot, sinking all three free throws to tie the game at 70-70 with six seconds left.
CBU quickly inbounded the ball, and Diaz went up for a jumper in the paint as time expired, but unfortunately just missed, causing the game to go into overtime.
With only five minutes on the clock to decide who would advance to round two of the Division II West Regional Tournament, it was evident that both teams would leave it all on the court.
Point Loma got things started with a jumpshot in the paint, thus taking its first lead since the third quarter, 72-70. Diaz quickly responded with a deep three, followed by a dish to Mitchell on a give-and-go play to give the Lancers a 75-72 cushion. The Sea Lions began to foul in order to slow the clock, but it would not be enough to catch the Lancers, who pulled out the 85-79 win.
CBU advances to play third-seeded Western Washington (26-5) in Saturday's first regional semifinal at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time.
Team Stats
PLNU
CBU
FG%
.326
.392
3FG%
.280
.310
FT%
.824
.818
RB
50
51
TO
13
18
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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