OREM, Utah-Utah Valley (13-14) held off a furious late CSU Bakersfield (11-17) rally to defeat the Roadrunners 72-69 Wednesday.
CSU Bakersfield battled foul trouble to lead 34-31 at halftime. Four CSUB players had at least two fouls at the break with two having three as the Roadrunners were called for 12 fouls compared to six for the host Wolverines in the opening frame.
The foul trouble continued in the second half as both Dajy Vines (R-Sr., Oxnard, Calif., Santa Clara HS) and Batabe Zempare (Fr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chappal HS) picked up their fourth fouls with in the first five minutes of the half. Shortly after both Vines and Zempare were called for their fourth fouls, the Wolverines went on a 14-2 run.
CSUB trailed by eight at the final media timeout and closed to 65-60 with 1:37 remaining when Tyonna Outland (R-So., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) was fouled. Outland made a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game. Outland was called for a foul on the ensuing Wolverines' possession. Allie Cardwell sank both of her free throw attempts for a 67-62 UVU lead.
Ciarra Ford (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Mt. Sac College) sank a layup the next time down for CSUB and was fouled. She missed the free throw attempt, but the Roadrunners got the offensive rebound. A Janae Coffee (R-So., Fresno, Calif., Long Beach State) bucket made it 67-66 at the 1:13 mark.
The Wolverines worked the ball into their leading scorer, Sammie Jensen who was fouled by Ford. Jensen made only 1-of-2 free throw attempts, giving the ball back to the Roadrunners with 48 seconds, but CSUB turned it over and Outland was forced to foul (her fifth) to stop the clock with 22 ticks left. Whitney Jenkins made both free throws for a 70-66 score.
CSUB quickly moved the ball down the court resulting in a Coffee layup. The 6-4 center was fouled and she made it the free throw attempt with six seconds to go. The Roadrunners fouled Allie Cardwell who connected on both attempts. CSUB missed a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final 72-69 score.
For the game, CSU Bakersfield was called for 24 fouls compared to 18 for Utah Valley. Ford led the Roadrunners with 18 points and eight assists. Coffee scored 17, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked four shots. Outland charted 14 points and six rebounds.
CSUB concludes the 2012-13 season Saturday at 12 p.m. when the Roadrunners host the University of New Orleans.
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