One Step Closer

Tuesday, March 21

Columbus, Ohio

11:30 AM

California Baptist University

35-2

West Florida

28-7

West Florida

California Baptist

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

3/21/2017 2:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 3-ranked California Baptist University went into another gear in the second half and got one step closer to its dream of winning a national championship with a 77-69 victory over West Florida in the first round of the Elite 8 on Tuesday.

The Lancers improve to 35-2 on the year, continuing to grow their program-best unbeaten streak to 32-straight games. The Argonauts end the year with a 28-7 overall mark.

"I think everybody that's playing right now is on a good winning streak," said Coach Jarrod Olson. "We're going to keep taking it one game at a time and do the best we can to just give ourselves another opportunity to play. It's a really fun team to coach and I think player one to 12 would say it's a fun team to play on. We're just glad we get another opportunity to do it tomorrow."

Four seniors finished the night in double-digit scoring, led by Cassidy Mihalko's 21 points (9-for-17) and three steals. Kamille Diaz was right behind her with 19 points (7-for-16) and was one assist shy of a double-double. The senior finished with nine assists, tying CBU's all-time record for career assists (680) set by Edith Duffey back in 1984.

Courtney Nelson added 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while Erin Asher provided a spark off the bench with 10 points (4-for-10) and five assists.

Off the glass, Mihalko was one board shy of a double-double, while Olivia Weber chipped in eight rebounds. Tori Mitchell and Emma Meriggioli each grabbed seven missed shots off the glass to help the Lancers out-rebound the Argonauts 51-to-42.

"It means a lot to me," said Diaz of the win. "I love the game of basketball and every game, I don't know if it's going to be my last, so I just try to give it all I have and I just try to leave it all on the floor. This is a good group that we have, so I just try to cherish the moment."

After finding themselves trailing by three, 7-4, Diaz hit a three and Mihalko followed with a layup to put the Lancers in front, 9-7. The two-point lead soon turned into a four-point cushion, 14-10, but the Argonauts came battling back.

West Florida took a 17-14 lead into the second quarter and seemed to not miss a shot in the opening minutes of the frame. The Argonauts threatened the first double-digit lead of the night, 26-18, but CBU's seniors weren't about to let that happen.

Nelson sparked a 14-1 run by driving to the basket and then assisted on an Meriggioli triple to put CBU within four, 27-23. Mitchell got in on the scoring action while the Lancer defense tightened up, putting CBU back on the attack to take the lead back on a kick out Nelson three-pointer off an Asher assist, 29-27. Meriggioli knocked down a triple to cap the run and put her team in front 32-27.

While CBU may have only boasted a two-point cushion at the half, 37-35, it seemed things were just starting to heat up.

The Lancers opened the third quarter on a 19-2 run to quickly take control of the contest. Mihalko got the scoring spree going with a jumper from a Diaz assist, before Diaz dropped a triple of her own. Asher and Diaz then combined for 14 unanswered Lancer points to give CBU the sizeable cushion, 56-37.

"Asher is about as streaky of a player as you're going to find" said Olson. "She can really get going and it's not always with shooting either. It could be with just making plays however she makes them. She's a real spark for us off the bench."

UWF kept coming and managed to chip the margin down to eight points in the final minute of action, but it wasn't enough time for a full-blown comeback attempt as the Lancers took the game 77-69.

CBU will face Virginia Union in the semifinal match on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Pacific, with hopes of making its second appearance in the championship finale in three years. The game will be broadcast live on CBS SportsNetwork.

"This means everything to us," said Mihalko. "We're excited to be here. We just want to make it to that final game we're taking it one game at a time and just getting our job done on the court. Getting to play basketball another day – it's what we love to do. It's just a blessing."