SAN ANTONIO – The Cal State Bakersfield women's basketball team will remember its trip to San Antonio for more than just the Alamo after earning its first–ever NCAA Division I victory with a 77–66 win at UT–San Antonio Friday night at the UTSA Convocation Center.
It took CSUB (4–2 overall) three tries to pick up its first regular–season Division I win, but the Roadrunners made it memorable as much for how they won as for the landmark status of the victory itself.
“That felt good,” said CSUB Head Coach Tim La Kose, who did little to hide his enthusiasm or his appreciation of his team's play Friday night. “Our mantra was play hard and good things will happen. We played hard and they did.”
The Roadrunners gave a balanced offensive effort, with four players scoring in double figures. The star of the game, however, was sophomore guard Krista Arase (Alhambra/Keppel HS) who led the way with 15 points, seven assists and four steals. Backcourt mate Kelley Tarver (Valencia HS) added 13 points.
The Roadrunners had a chance to pick up their first Division I win Wednesday, but were out–rebounded by 20 in a 78–66 loss at Houston. Florida Siaosi (Hesperia/Sultana HS) made sure history wouldn't repeat itself by serving as a one–woman wrecking crew on the glass. She grabbed a team season–high 15 rebounds to almost single–handedly help the Roadrunners finish the night with a 48–33 rebounding advantage.
“Florida had a little coming out party tonight,” said La Kose of his freshman forward, “She was a monster on both ends of the floor and was a big difference in the game.”
Like they did in their first Division I game at UNLV, the Roadrunners got off to a fast start at UTSA. UTSA, whose nickname also is the Roadrunners, tied the game at 4–4, but it was all Bakersfield from that point. CSUB needed little more than three minutes to get the lead to double figures at 16–6.
CSUB traded a layup for an Arase three–pointer and the lead would not sink below double figures until the closing moments of the game.
CSUB built its lead to as many as 19 points in the second half, before UTSA made a final run to trim the deficit to 72–64 with 1:31 to play. With CSUB's Roadrunners now veterans of multiple Division I games, they learned how to close this one out and didn't let UTSA get closer.
CSUB returns to California to play at the University of San Diego Tuesday night.
CS BAKERSFIELD (4–2 overall): Rhondi Naff 4-8 2-2 11; Naomi Johnson 2-3 0-1 5; Jessi Loring 5-11 2-2 12; Kelley Tarver 5-11 2-3 13; Krista Arase 2-4 10-12 15; Katherine Smith 1-2 2-2 5; Christine Kepenekian 1-2 0-0 3; Rhonda Johnson 2-7 0-1 4; Florida Siaosi 3-12 3-4 9. TOTALS: 25-60 21-27 77.
UT–SAN ANTONIO (1–7 overall): Vivian Ewalefo 6-14 3-7 15; Tia Bogan 1-3 0-0 2; Terrie Davis 4-8 3-3 13; Lynsey Freeman 1-6 0-0 3; Monica Gibbs 2-9 8-9 12; Ana Oliviera 0-1 0-0 0; Regan Burks 1-1 0-0 2; Kara McKay 1-5 2-2 4; Courtney Liang 6-13 2-3 15. TOTALS: 22-60 18-24 66.
HALFTIME: CSUB 44–27. 3-PT. FG: CSUB 6-8 (Naff 1-1, N. Johnson 1-1, Smith 1-1, Kepenekian 1-1, Tarver 1-2, Arase 1-2); UTSA 4-11 (Freeman 2-4, Liang 1-1, Freeman 1-5, McKay 0-1). REBOUNDS: CSUB 48 (Siaosi 15); UTSA 33 (Ewalefo 9). ASSISTS: CSUB 16 (Arase 7); UTSA 14 (Gibbs 8). TURNOVERS: CSUB 13, UTSA 11. BLOCKS: CSUB 4 (Loring 2); UTSA 9 (Gibbs, McKay 3). STEALS: CSUB 5 (Arase 4); UTSA 3 (3 with 1). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: Alvarez, Tingle, Solis. ATTN: 393.
