Women's Basketball December 18, 2008 CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Big First Half Carries Roadrunners Over Waves, 66?51

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? After a dominating first half, the CSUB women's basketball team was able to close out the Pepperdine Waves, 66?51, Thursday evening in the Icardo Center. CSUB led 41?16 at the break and never looked back, cruising to a 14?point victory. Junior Phynique Allen had a game-high 17 points as the ?Runners improved to 7-5 on the season while the Waves fall to 5-5. Allen was 4-of-7 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. The win evens the all-time series between the two programs at 1-1 as Pepperdine won last season in Malibu, Calif., 95?77.

Senior Krista Arase had five steals and moved into first place on CSUB's all-time steals list. Arase now has 238 steals for her career, surpassing Katie McElree (2002?06) who had 235. She chipped in 13 points going 3-for-5 from deep and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Classmates Christine Kepenekian (12) and Morgan Saso (10) both reached double-digit point totals. Kepenekian had a team-high seven rebounds.

The ?Runners held the Waves to just 30.6 percent shooting for the evening and tied a season-best by forcing 25 Pepperdine turnovers. Pepperdine held a slim three-rebound advantage over CSUB, 36?33. The Roadrunners finished the game shooting 46.5 percent from the field and was 19-for-22 from the charity stripe. CSUB had a season-best 16 steals and turned them into 24 points.

The win was CSUB's 77th consecutive victory when holding opponents under 60 points.

Pepperdine's Jazmine Jackson had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jessica Ross was the only other player in double figures with 11 points.

The two teams traded baskets early as neither could build upon slim one-point margins. Christine Kepenekian had CSUB's first field goal while Pepperdine's Taylor Smith had Pepperdine's first four. Down 4-3, Kepenekian took a hard drive to the basket and was rewarded with a hoop and the harm. She converted the free throw to give CSUB a 6-4 lead. Phynique Allen, making her first start since returning from injury, added a layup on a fast break for a four-point Roadrunner advantage.

After Pepperdine was whistled for an offensive foul, Kepenekian stepped back and knocked down her first triple of the game, making the score, 11?4 before the under-12 media timeout.

CSUB would extend the lead to 13 points, 17?4, until Pepperdine's Jessica Ross hit a three pointer to stop the 14-point run by CSUB.
Two fouls on Kepenekian sent the senior guard to the bench with just under nine minutes to go in the first half. She left the game with eight points and five rebounds.

Krista Arase gave the ?Runners another double-digit lead as she nailed a wide-open three from left of the key. CSUB took a defensive rebound the next time down and hit a driving Allen who drew a foul and hit both charity buckets for a 22?9 advantage. The CSUB lead continued to grow throughout the half as Pepperdine struggled from the floor and to hold possession. The ?Runners took advantage and continued to build upon their lead.

Another three pointer from Krista Arase gave the ?Runners a 41-16 halftime advantage. The 25-point lead was the largest halftime advantage CSUB has held this season. Allen had 14 points on 3-for-5 shooting and an 8-for-8 free throw mark. CSUB forced 14 Wave turnovers and held them to just 20.7 shooting.

The Waves seemed to find their legs again in the second half, pulling to within 19 midway through the second half. But the ?Runners seemingly had an answer for everything Pepperdine threw at them and were able to keep a comfortable margin. Katie Williams found a good time to hit her first shot of the game, a three pointer from the right baseline to give CSUB a 22 point advantage, 56-34, with just under nine minutes to play.

Climbing all the way back, Pepperdine got within 13 points with just under a minute to play but by that time CSUB had a firm grasp on the win.

CSUB will head to Corvallis, Ore., for a 2 p.m. contest Sunday against Pac?10 member Oregon State. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY (5-5)
Jackson 5-14 2-2 12; Ross 4-7 0-0 11; Ayim 3-6 2-2 8; Isabell 1-7 2-2 5; Barnett 2-6 1-2 5; Smith 2-6 0-0 4; Lelo 1-4 1-4 4; Jarrell 1-3 0-0 2; Bell 0-5 0-0 0; Huley 0-0 0-0 0; Bryant 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 19-62 8-12 51.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (7-5)
Allen 4-7 8-9 17; Arase 3-6 4-4 13; Kepenekian 4-9 3-3 12; Saso 5-7 0-0 10; Williams 2-8 0-0 5; Belt 1-2 0-0 3; West 0-0 3-4 3; Leon 1-4 1-2 3. Totals
20-43 19-22 66.

Pepperdine 16 35 51
CSU Bakersfield 41 25 66

3p fg--Pepperdine 5-18 (Ross 3-4; Isabell 1-3; Lelo 1-2; Smith 0-3; Bell 0-2; Bryant 0-1; Barnett 0-1; Jackson 0-2), CSU Bakersfield 7-17 (Arase 3-5; Belt 1-1; Williams 1-6; Allen 1-2; Kepenekian 1-2; Leon 0-1). A-383

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Players Mentioned

#24 Phynique Allen: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#25 Krista Arase: G; 5' 6"; Senior

#23 Christine Kepenekian: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#22 Katie Williams: G; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#24 Phynique Allen
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#25 Krista Arase
: 5' 6"; Senior
: G

#23 Christine Kepenekian
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#22 Katie Williams
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Big First Half Carries Roadrunners Over Waves, 66?51

Players Mentioned

#24 Phynique Allen

#25 Krista Arase

#23 Christine Kepenekian

#22 Katie Williams

Players Mentioned

#24 Phynique Allen

#25 Krista Arase

#23 Christine Kepenekian

#22 Katie Williams