Sweet Repeat in Alaska

Monday, March 13

Anchorage, AK

8:00 PM

California Baptist University

34-2

Simon Fraser

26-8

Simon Fraser

California Baptist

Photo by: Skip Hickey

3/14/2017 12:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Abbie Gortsema, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — With hopes of returning to the Elite 8 for the second time in three years, No. 3-ranked California Baptist University came prepared to battle Simon Fraser University Monday night in the West Regional Championship Game at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Lancers grabbed a 77-64 win and secured a second trip to the Elite 8, which will take place in Columbus, Ohio, beginning March 21. With the win, CBU continued its streak with 31 consecutive games won and improves to 34-2, while the Clan finishes at 26-8.

Veteran leadership from senior guards Cassidy Mihalko and Kamille Diaz led the charge once again. Mihalko posted 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals and earned herself a spot on the all-tournament team. Diaz scored a team-high 28 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished nine assists – just one board and one assist shy of a triple-double — and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Senior guard Erin Asher contributed 12 points and two steals, while Olivia Weber added 12 rebounds from the reserve.

The Lancers got the ball moving quickly to open the first quarter of play. Diaz found Mihalko on a long outlet pass from half court and Mihalko laid it in uncontested to start the game off strong.

The Clan quickly responded with an 8-2 run to take a 14-8 lead halfway through the first quarter of play. Mihalko hit a three-pointer from the corner to bring the Lancers within three, 14-11, but the Clan answered with a trey of their own to keep a multi-possession cushion, 17-11. SFU continued to push, and took a 25-15 lead with 1:30 left to play in the first quarter, forcing a Lancer timeout.

Coming out of the timeout, Diaz drew a foul on the drive and made both free throws, trying to get some momentum going for the Lancers, still down 25-17.

Refusing to let the Clan take the game away, Tori Mitchell drew a foul in the paint and sank both free throws to get a spark started for CBU. She immediately followed with a stuff block on the next Clan possession, which gave the Lancers a much-needed push.

From there, the Lancers went off. Mihalko grabbed a clutch offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back. She sank both free throws, thus closing the gap to just one possession. Asher drove the lane and bounce passed to Weber, who laid it in for a major momentum shift, putting the Lancers down by one, 31-30.

Weber forced a Clan shot clock violation, and Diaz swished a deep three-pointer to give CBU the lead and force an SFU timeout. Following the timeout, Asher drained a triple off of a Diaz pass to increase the lead, 36-31.

The Lancers finished the second quarter strong, outscoring the Clan 19-6 and keeping them to an 18.8 shooting percentage from the field, taking a 38-31 upper hand into halftime.

Diaz drained a deep three to open the second half and keep the Lancer lead alive at 41-33, but it was clear the Clan was not willing to give up just yet. SFU went on an 8-2 run and tied the game at 46 all with 3:51 remaining in the third. An Asher layup and a three pointer from Mihalko gave the Lancers an edge at the end of the third to go into the remaining 10 minutes with a 51-46 lead.

Despite being outscored in the third, the Lancers refused to back down and showed true determination in the final 10 minutes of play. They outscored the Clan 26-18 to secure the regional championship crown and grab a dominating 77-64 win.

The eight regional champions will be re-seeded heading into the Elite 8. Last time CBU went to the Elite 8, it made it all the way to the championship game, but settled for runner-up. This time, the Lancers are looking to take it all the way to claim CBU's first team NCAA championship trophy.