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Leon Helps ?Runners Power Past Santa Clara, 73?65

Women's Basketball CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Leon Helps ?Runners Power Past Santa Clara, 73?65


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Nicole Leon led all scorers with 23 in her first collegiate start to help the Roadrunner women's basketball team take down the Santa Clara Broncos, 73?65, Saturday evening in the Icardo Center. The sophomore Canyon Country, Calif., native was 8-for-12 from the field and was 2-of-4 from behind the arc. Seniors Christine Kepenekian and Morgan Saso joined her in double figures, scoring 18 and 12, respectively. Kepenekian had 10 rebounds to earn her second double-double performance of the season. The ?Runners are back over .500 at 4-3 while Santa Clara drops to 1?8.

The ?Runners fell behind early as the Broncos' Maggie Goldenberg had five quick points to give Santa Clara its biggest lead of the game at 12?7. CSUB would battle back as CSUB would score the next nine points including an old fashioned three-point play converted by Kepenekian.

Santa Clara would battle back, tying the score five more times before the end of the half. CSUB went on a quick 8?0 run as senior Nikhol West hit a couple of open jumpers and Kepenekian converted another hoop and foul opportunity to give the ?Runners a 31?23 advantage at the break. Leon scored 14 of her 23 in the first half while Kepenekian had eight with six rebounds.

In the second half, the Roadrunners extended the lead to 12 points before watching Santa Clara battle back to within two. Kepenekian scored 10 points in the final frame to help CSUB keep the lead. Late in the half, Santa Clara pulled to within three on a Claire Goins' jumper. The Broncos turned up the defensive pressure trying to get back into the game but the ?Runners stood tall, hitting their last 10 free throws of the contest to secure the victory. For the game, CSUB was 24-of-33 from the charity stripe (72.7%).

The ?Roadrunners shot just 37.1 percent from the field but held Santa Clara to 38.3. This marks the first game that CSUB has won when shooting worse than its opponent this season. The CSUB defense forced 19 Bronco turnovers which led to 21 points. The ?Runners had 13 steals, led by Leon and senior Krista Arase with four each. Santa Clara outrebounded CSUB, 46?38.

Senior Kelley Tarver and junior guards Tiffany Belt and Phynique Allen did not suit up for the contest, leaving the ?Runners with just eight active players. Arase played all 40 minutes, Leon was in for 38 while Kepenekian logged 37.

Lena Gipson had 22 points for Santa Clara on 7-of-15 shooting. She also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Elizabeth Doran had 14 points while Goins had 12.

CSUB hits the road for its first of two consecutive Big 12 opponents at Nebraska on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. in Lincoln, Neb.


CSU Bakersfield 73, Santa Clara 65

SANTA CLARA (1-8)
Gipson 7-15 8-8 22; Doran 5-14 0-0 14; Goins 6-9 0-0 12; Goldenberger 2-5 2-4 6; Faithful 2-8 0-0 5; Majors 1-5 1-3 4; Parker 0-3 2-2 2; Lokhorst 0-0 0-0 0; Goeggel 0-0 0-0 0; Willinsky 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-60 13-17 65.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (4-3)
Leon 8-12 5-9 23; Kepenekian 7-15 3-3 18; Saso 3-9 6-8 12; West 3-3 1-1 7; Smith 1-3 3-6 5; Arase 0-10 4-4 4; Williams 0-8 2-2 2; Carter 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-62 24-33 73.

Santa Clara    23    42    65
CSU Bakersfield    31    42    73

3-point goals--Santa Clara 6-20 (Doran 4-10; Majors 1-2; Faithful 1-6; Parker 0-2), CSU Bakersfield 3-15 (Leon 2-4; Kepenekian 1-2; Arase 0-5; Williams 0-4). Fouled out--Santa Clara-Goldenberger CSU Bakersfield-None.
Technical fouls--Santa Clara-None, CSU Bakersfield-None. A-462


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Players Mentioned

Kelley Tarver

#3 Kelley Tarver

G
5' 8"
Junior
Phynique Allen

#24 Phynique Allen

G
5' 7"
Junior
Krista Arase

#25 Krista Arase

G
5' 6"
Senior
Tiffany Belt

#12 Tiffany Belt

G
5' 8"
Junior
Christine Kepenekian

#23 Christine Kepenekian

G
5' 7"
Senior
Nikki Leon

#32 Nikki Leon

F
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Kelley Tarver

#3 Kelley Tarver

5' 8"
Junior
G
Phynique Allen

#24 Phynique Allen

5' 7"
Junior
G
Krista Arase

#25 Krista Arase

5' 6"
Senior
G
Tiffany Belt

#12 Tiffany Belt

5' 8"
Junior
G
Christine Kepenekian

#23 Christine Kepenekian

5' 7"
Senior
G
Nikki Leon

#32 Nikki Leon

5' 11"
Sophomore
F
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