EDINBURG, Texas ? A game-high 24 points by Kelley Tarver helped spur a second half run by the CSUB women's basketball team, but the comeback fell just short in a 65-62 loss to Chicago State University in the opening game of the NCAA Division I Independent Tournament, hosted by UT-Pan American.
Eighteen of Tarver's points came in the second half as the Roadrunners rallied from 18-point down, cutting the deficit to one point on two occasions. The junior from Valencia nailed a school-record 16 free throws on 18 attempts (which ties the CSUB record).
Trailing 53-42 at the 8:43 mark, junior Krista Arase nailed a pair of free throws, cutting the spread to single digits for the first time in the second half. The ?Runners then took advantage of two Cougar turnovers and two missed shots to complete a 10-0 run with 6:51 remaining.
An offensive rebound and putback by Naomi Johnson made it a 62-61 game with 1:53 remaining, but Chicago's Zondranika Williams was fouled on the ensuing possession and made good on her free throws to stretch the lead back to three.
Arase made one of two free throws to cut the lead to two, and another Chicago turnover gave the ?Runners a final shot to tie or take the lead, but they could not convert the layup or a final desperation halfcourt hurl at the buzzer.
Johnson tallied her 10th double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Sophomore Tiffany Belt also reached double figures for Bakersfield with 13.
Chicago State was led by Jasmin Dixon's 19 points while the Cougars also got an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double from Courtney Waldon.
Twelve first-half turnovers and a 30 percent shooting effort from the field hurt the Roadrunners, along with a sluggish defensive effort. The Cougars jumped out to a 15-5 lead at the 13:02 mark, and despite cutting the spread to five on three on five occasions, a late 8-3 run by Chicago State put CSUB in a 38-23 halftime hole.
The ?Runners finished the game shooting 34 percent from the field, while the Cougars hit at a 42 percent clip. Chicago State also won the battle on the boards, 50-31, including 21 offensive rebounds.
CSUB will have to wait until all three first-round games are complete Thursday night before it learns its Friday match-up. Depending on other outcomes, the ?Runners can face either Florida Gulf Coast or Utah Valley at either 3:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., CST.
Chicago State 65, CSU Bakersfield 62
CSU BAKERSFIELD (11-16) -- TARVER 4-12 16-18 24; JOHNSON 7-11 1-3 15; BELT 5-12 3-4 13; ARASE 2-10 3-4 8; WEST 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 19-56 23-31 62.
CHICAGO STATE (15-12) -- DIXON 8-16 3-4 19; WALDON, C. 5-11 0-0 11; WILLIAMS 3-11 3-4 10; CLARK 4-8 1-4 9; WALDON, A. 2-7 0-1 6; LONDON 0-0 4-4 4; BLACK 1-3 0-0 2; PIERSON 1-3 0-0 2; WROTEN 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-60 11-17 65.
Halftime: CS 38-23. 3-point goals--CSUB 1-12 (ARASE 1-6), CS 4-13 (WILLIAMS 1-3; WALDON, A. 2-5, WALDON, C. 1-5). Fouled out--CSUB-None, CS-WALDON, A. Rebounds--CSUB 31 (JOHNSON 10), CS 50 (CLARK 13). Assists--CSUB 9 (ARASE, TARVER 4), CS 14 (DIXON, WALDON, A. 4). Total fouls--CSUB 16, CS 21. Technical fouls--CSUB-None, CS-None. A-101.
