BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The CSUB women's basketball team scored a season-best 93 points as it defeated Saint Mary's College, 93?73, Tuesday evening in the Icardo Center. Four different Roadrunners scored in double figures led by senior Christine Kepenekian who had a double-double, recording game-highs in rebounds (12), steals (6) and points (26). The win moves CSUB back over .500 at 6-5 while the Gaels drop to 1-9.

Junior guards Phynique Allen and Tiffany Belt each made returns to the Roadrunner backcourt rotation Tuesday. Allen returned to score 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting. The Roadrunners were without senior Kelley Tarver who will miss the rest of the season with knee surgery. She was injured in the final minute of the Oklahoma game back on Dec. 12.

Senior Krista Arase knocked down four of the Roadrunners' six three-pointers of the contest, hitting all four in the second half as she finished with 16 points, five assists and four steals. Arase is now within two steals of becoming CSUB's all-time leader with 233. Katie McElree has 235. Classmate Morgan Saso scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Nikhol West scored eight points and led the team with two blocked shots.

CSUB outrebounded the Gaels, 45?37, and shot 48.6 percent from the field. Saint Mary's committed 22 turnovers but outscored the Roadrunner bench, 46?24, as the Gaels used 13 players.

With the score tied, 2-2, CSUB got out in transition as Christine Kepenekian pulled down an offensive rebound, cleared it out to Nikhol West who rewarded Morgan Saso for running the floor and found her for an easy layup. The ?Runners continued to push the pace in transition as West and Kepenekian each scored layups to give CSUB a quick 8-2 advantage.

Katie Williams scored five quick points in the span of just under a minute as she nailed a three, stole a pass and took it coast-to-coast for a fast-break layup.

The Gaels climbed back from a 10-point down to take the lead with just over seven minutes to go in the first, utilizing their size inside the paint to their advantage. Forward Ashlee Smith was a perfect 6-for-6 in the first half, scoring 16 points.

Down by six, Saso set a nice screen and rolled off for an open pass. As the defense shifted over to help, Saso found a driving Nikki Leon who converted a tough layup, bringing the score to 34?30 in favor of Saint Mary's.

The ?Runners grabbed the lead back just before halftime as Kepenekian drew a foul on an inbounds play and knocked down a free throw, giving CSUB a 39-38 advantage with just under a minute left. After a defensive stop, Kepenekian earned another trip to the line, knocking down two for a 41-38 CSUB lead. Lindsay Ellis got an offensive rebound and scored, cutting the Gael deficit to just one, 41-40 at the half.

Christine Kepenekian extended her double-digit scoring streak before the end of the first half, scoring 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting. The ?Runners, however, struggled from the floor, going just 15-for-34 in the first including a 1-for-11 mark from behind the arc.

With the Gaels pushing the pace early in the second, CSUB responded with a couple tough Kepenekian drives and two big Krista Arase three pointers to take a 53?45 advantage.

Krista Arase would add six more points and Nikki Leon knocked down a midrange jumper on a fast break as the CSUB lead grew to 63-52 with 13:32 left in the game.

Despite some turnovers late in the contest, the 'Runners maintained a comfortable lead down the stretch to secure the 20-point victory.

Ashlee Smith finished with 21 points for Saint Mary's. Alex Carbonel had 15 and Amber Coatney had 13.

CSUB returns to the Icardo Center for a 7 p.m. contest Thursday against the Pepperdine Waves. For ticket information, call the CSUB ticket office at (661) 654-BLUE.


SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE (1-9)
Smith 8-9 4-4 21; Carbonel 6-15 3-4 15; Coatney 4-5 4-8 13; Kojola 2-4 0-0 5; Tomlinson 2-7 0-0 4; Ellis 2-3 0-0 4; Lahde 1-9 1-3 3; Batlin 1-3 0-0 3; Richey 0-0 3-4 3; Davis 0-1 2-2 2; Chambers 0-2 0-0 0; Levesque 0-2 0-0 0; Ruiz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 17-25 73.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (6-5)
Kepenekian 10-19 6-8 26; Arase 5-7 2-2 16; Allen 5-14 3-6 14; Saso 6-9 1-1 13; Williams 3-5 1-1 8; West 2-4 4-6 8; Leon 3-11 0-0 6; Smith 1-1 0-0 2; Carter 0-1 0-0 0; Belt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-72 17-24 93.

Saint Mary's College    40    33    73
CSU Bakersfield    41    52    93

3-point goals--Saint Mary's College 4-14 (Batlin 1-1; Coatney 1-2; Smith 1-1; Kojola 1-3; Lahde 0-2; Davis 0-1; Levesque 0-1; Ruiz 0-1; Carbonel 0-2), CSU Bakersfield 6-22 (Arase 4-6; Allen 1-4; Williams 1-3; Leon0-4; Kepenekian 0-5). A-378