BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Visiting UC San Diego combined hot–shooting with a zone defense Cal State Bakersfield rarely solved to post a 72–61 victory Saturday night at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Sophomore guard Kelley Tarver (Valencia HS) led the 'Runners with 15 points while fellow sophomore Krista Arase (Alhambra/Keppel HS) chipped in 12 points and a game–high seven assists.
That was not nearly enough, however, to offset the 25-point, nine-rebound effort of Triton forward Michelle Osier or the 21 points and seven rebounds posted by her front court mate, Jillian Ricks.
Bakersfield (8–6, 5–2 CCAA) did an admirable job shutting down UCSD (10-2, 6-1) guard Leora Juster, the leading scorer in NCAA Division II play. Juster finished with 16 points, nine below her season average, with four of those points coming in the meaningless final seconds. But the rest of the Tritons shot lights out, nailing numerous tough running jumpers while converting 6-of-11 from beyond the three–point arc.
For their part, the Roadrunners passivity played right into UCSD's hands. Bakersfield enjoyed great success when it made an effort to get the ball inside. The three 'Runner post players combined to shoot 12-of-18 from the floor, but did not get many opportunities as the perimeter players constantly settled for jumps shots early in possessions.
Over the past eight games, the 'Runners were shooting less than 25 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Nevertheless, they took 23 three-pointers Saturday and made just five, good for 22 percent.
Neither team could establish control in the first half. The 'Runners led by as many as five late in the half before a late spurt gave UCSD a 37–36 lead at intermission. But UCSD eased away early in the second half, eventually building a 56–45 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The 'Runners cut the lead to six with the ball several times but never got closer.
Bakersfield continues its four-game homestand Thursday night when it hosts Sonoma State in Rabobank Arena.
UC SAN DIEGO (10–2, 6–1 CCAA): Michelle Osier 10-14 2-4 25; Hillary Hansen 7-13 6-6 21; Jillian Ricks 1-3 1-2 3; Leora Juster 5-11 5-6 16; Kacie Kostlan 0-2 2-3 2; Meaghan Noud 0-1 2-2 2; Alexis Mezzetta 1-3 0-0 3; Alexis Gaskin 0-2 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24-49 18-23 72.
CS BAKERSFIELD (8–6, 5–2 CCAA): Rhondi Naff 1-2 0-2 2; Florida Siaosi 3-6 0-0 6; Jessi Loring 6-9 0-0 12; Kelley Tarver 5-12 3-3 15; Krista Arase 4-8 1-2 12; Tiffany Belt 0-2 2-2 2; Katherine Smith 1-7 0-0 2; Naomi Johnson 0-0 0-0 0; Chrsitine Kepenekian 1-3 0-0 2; Rhonda Johnson 3-3 2-2 8. TOTALS: 24-52 8-11 61.
HALFTIME: UCSD 37-36. 3-PT. FG: UCSD 6-11 (Osier 3-3, Hansen 1-2, Juster 1-2, Mezzetta 1-2, Ricks 0-1, Kostlan 0-1); CSUB 5-23 (Arase 3-6, Tarver 2-7, Naff 0-1, Siaosi 0-1, Kepenekian 0-2, Smith 0-4). REBOUNDS: UCSD 30 (Osier 9); CSUB 27 (Siaosi 6). ASSISTS: UCSD 11 (Juster 5); CSUB 16 (Arase 7). TURNOVERS: UCSD 13, CSUB 18. BLOCKS: UCSD 1 (Ricks); CSUB 4 (R. Johnson 2). STEALS: UCSD 12 (Osier 4); CSUB 5 (Tarver 2). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: Eshom, Belgen, Carter. ATTN: 364.
