Women's Basketball February 07, 2009 CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Defense Helps CSUB Contain Huskies

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Despite an off shooting night, the CSUB women's basketball team's defense held strong as the ?Runners defeated Houston Baptist University 66?59 Saturday evening in the Icardo Center. The win moves the Roadrunners' record to 15?8 on the year while the Huskies drop to 7?16.

Junior Katie Williams (Las Vegas/Reedley College) score a game-high 18 points as has now recorded 12 double-digit scoring totals on the year. The big surprise of the evening came in the form of freshman forward Jana Smith (Tehachapi HS) who scored a career-best 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Smith, who made her fifth start of the season, also grabbed five rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Senior Christine Kepenekian (Burbank HS) grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds while scoring eight points.

CSUB shot just 37.7 percent (26-for-69) from the field and hit just two three pointers in 13 attempts. But the ?Runner defense tied a season-high by forcing 26 turnovers and kept the Huskies' offense in check. In the two teams' first meeting of the season back on January 24 in Edinburg, Texas, a game the CSUB would win by 9, 82?73, the ?Runners also forced 26 Houston Baptist turnovers.

Down by three early in the first half, Krista Arase (Monterey Park/Keppel HS) hit a three followed by a pair of layups from Smith and Phynique Allen (San Diego/Eastern Washington) as CSUB took a four point lead that it never surrendered. With 3:38 remaining, Smith would convert another layup off a pass from Allen to give the ?Runners a 10 point advantage. CSUB would go into the locker room with a 32?25 lead, led by Smith who had 12 at the break.

In the second half, the ?Runners would score 15 of the first 24 points to hold their largest advantage of the contest of 13 points at 47?34. Houston Baptist would battle back to cut the lead down to four with 9:19 remaining in the contest. But the ?Runners would build the lead back out to 11 points and the advantage would never dip below eight points as CSUB held on for its eight victory at home.

Jelela Simpson led Houston Baptist with 14 points and nine rebounds. Cindee Wright had 13 points while Fallon Thomas added 10. By holding HBU to 59 points, the ?Runners increase their all-time mark to 81?0 when keeping opponents under 60 points.

Up next, CSUB will head to UC Riverside for a Wednesday showdown with the Big West's Highlanders. Tip time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

HOUSTON BAPTIST (7-16)
Simpson 7-13 0-0 14; Wright 5-15 3-4 13; Thomas 3-6 2-2 10; Spriggs 4-6 1-2 9; Jones 2-3 0-0 6; Morris 2-8 0-0 4; Green 1-2 0-0 3; Little 0-2 0-0 0; Mayberry
0-2 0-0 0; Bapoo 0-2 0-0 0; Lissouck 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-62 6-8 59.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (15-8)
Williams 7-12 3-4 18; Smith 6-12 3-6 15; Arase 3-9 2-2 9; Kepenekian 2-9 4-8 8; Belt 2-7 0-0 4; Leon 2-4 0-0 4; Allen 2-7 0-1 4; West 2-6 0-1 4; Carter 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 26-69 12-22 66.

Houston Baptist.............. 25 34 - 59
CSU Bakersfield............... 32 34 - 66

3-point goals--Houston Baptist 5-10 (Jones 2-3; Thomas 2-4; Green 1-2; Little 0-1), CSU Bakersfield 2-13 (Williams 1-3; Arase 1-5; Kepenakian 0-2; Belt 0-3). A-517

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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

#5 Jana Smith: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

#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

#5 Jana Smith
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F

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

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Defense Helps CSUB Contain Huskies

Players Mentioned

#24 Phynique Allen

#25 Krista Arase

#23 Christine Kepenekian

#5 Jana Smith

#22 Katie Williams

Players Mentioned

#24 Phynique Allen

#25 Krista Arase

#23 Christine Kepenekian

#5 Jana Smith

#22 Katie Williams