BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield women's basketball team played as close to perfect a game as it possibly could Thursday night, racing to an 18–2 lead then stepping on the gas to cruise to a 106-54 win over Cal State Monterey Bay Thursday night at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Freshman forward Florida Siaosi (Hesperia/Sultana HS) enjoyed the most dominant game of her young collegiate career, finishing with game and career highs of 21 points and 18 rebounds. Sophomore guard Krista Arase (Alhambra/Keppel HS) just missed a double-double, falling one assist short by scoring 12 points with nine assists.
Siaosi was far from a one-woman wrecking crew, however, as a a school-record seven Roadrunners scored in double figures. An eighth player, freshman Kelly Blair (Morro Bay HS) just missed joining that group with a career-high nine points.
Freshman guard Tiffany Belt (West HS) also reached a career-high with 13 points. Senior center Jessie Loring (Saugus/College of the Canyons) scored 12 points with eight rebounds. Kelley Tarver, Rhondi Naff and Rhonda Johnson each added 10 points.
For all intents and purposes, this one was over early. The 'Runners scored 16 unanswered points to turn a 2-2 tie into a 18-2 lead. Naff nailed a three-pointer midway through the first half to give the 'Runners a 21-point lead at 30-9 and they never looked back.
The 'Runner offense ran at peak efficiency. Bakersfield played offense so well, that its players earned assists on the first 23 field goals of the game. Although not an official record, that was certainly the best passing performance in team history.
Defensively, the 'Runners suffocated Monterey Bay. They held the Otters to just 31 percent shooting, including 27 percent from the floor in the second half. They also forced 28 Monterey Bay turnovers thanks in large part to 18 steals.
Brittnea Moore and Sabrina Jenkins led Monterey Bay (3-14, 2-10 CCAA) with 12 points apiece. Alma Lopez from nearby Porterville College, chipped in 10 points and three assists.
CSUB (13-6, 10-2 CCAA) returns to action Saturday night, continuing a five-game homestand against San Francisco State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Rabobank Arena.
CS MONTEREY BAY (3–14, 2–10 CCAA): Natalie Franka 0-0 0-0 0; Krista Herr 1-2 0-0 2; Denisha Profit 0-1 0-0 0; Britnea Moore 3-14 6-7 12; Alma Lopez 4-16 2-2 10; Megan Okui 0-0 0-0 0; Brittany Kikuchi 2-6 1-1 6; Andrea Hanshew 0-1 0-0 0; Melissa Gutierrez; 0-1 0-0 0; Dana Andrews 4-7 0-0 8; Kelly Mezger 0-2 2-4 2; Tina Stetson 1-5 0-0 2; Sabrina Jenkins 4-6 2-4 12. TOTALS: 19-61 13-18 54.
CS BAKERSFIELD (13–6, 10–2 CCAA): Rhondi Naff 3-7 2-2 10; Florida Siaosi 5-8 11-13 21; Jessi Loring 5-10 2-2 12; Kelley Tarver 3-8 3-6 10; Krista Arase 4-7 0-0 12; Tiffany Belt 5-8 0-2 13; Katherine Smith 0-2 3-6 3; Naomi Johnson 3-3 0-2 6; Kelly Blair 3-6 0-0 9 Rhonda Johnson 4-13 2-2 10. TOTALS: 35-72 23-35 106.
HALFTIME: CSUB 53-25. 3-PT. FG: MB 3-14 (Jenkins 2-2, Kikuchi 1-4, Moore 0-1, Gutierrez 0-1, Andrews 0-2, Lopez 0-4); CSUB 13-24 (Arase 4-6, Belt 3-4, Blair 3-4, Naff 2-6, Tarver 1-2). REBOUNDS: MB 30 (Profit, Andrews 5); CSUB 57 (Siaosi 18). ASSISTS: MB 7 (Lopez 3); CSUB 28 (Arase 9). TURNOVERS: MB 28, CSUB 20. BLOCKS: MB 2 (Andrews, Mezger); CSUB 5 (Loring 2). STEALS: MB 10 (3 with 2); CSUB 18 (3 with 4). TECHNICALS: None. FOULED OUT: Profit. OFFICIALS: Waters, Jojola, Sparks. ATTN: 317.
