IRVINE, Calif.--CSU Bakersfield rallied from being down 13 in the first half to defeat UC Irvine 68-65 Tuesday night.

“Tonight was a gutsy performance from our team and we found a way to win,” said CSU Bakersfield head coach Greg McCall.

UC Irvine jumped out to 12-0 lead as CSUB missed its first five field goal attempts. The Roadrunners did not score until Brittany Sims (So., Fresno, Calif., Edison HS) made a pair of free throws 4:26 into the game. With UCI leading 15-2, CSUB chipped away at the Anteaters, scoring 15 of the next 21 points to get within four, 21-17 at 9:22.

Both teams did not score for almost three minutes until Methlyn Onogomuho made a short jumper with seven to play. UC Irvine would push the lead back out to eight on two occasions. Down 31-23, CSUB mounted a 7-0 charge during which Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) scored five consecutive points to make it 31-30 going into halftime.

Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) scored four of the first six points of the second half to give CSU Bakersfield a 36-31 lead. Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) connected on a three-pointer to put CSUB up by six, three minutes into the closing frame. The Anteaters scored the next six points to tie it up before the teams exchanged three-point field goals for a 42-42 score.

UC Irvine led 45-44 when back-to-back three-point plays from Zempare keyed an 11-0 run.  The momentum swung back into the Anteaters' favor when Irene Chavez was fouled on a made three-point basket. She made the free throw to cut the CSUB lead from double-digits to five with 8:45 remaining. A Roadrunner turnover led to a Mokun Fajemisin jumper and 56-53 CSUB lead.  Erika Williams (R-So., Fresno, Calif., Diamond Ranch HS) connected on back-to-back field goals for an eight point advantage. Onogomuho, Fajemisin, and Shereen Sutherland scored on consecutive chances for the Anteaters to make it 60-59.

Williams was fouled and missed a pair of free throws which led to a fast break chance for UCI, but Shannon made a steal which led to an Outland layup in transition. Fajemiskin made a jumper on the ensuing possession. The Anteaters forced a miss on the CSUB end the next time down. Ongomuho was fouled on the rebound but she made only 1-of-2 free throws to tie the score at 62.

The Roadrunners called a play for Outland and the All-American responded with a layup for the go-ahead basket with 1:29 remaining. CSUB called timeout to set the defense.  Sutherland was fouled going to the hoop. She made only 1-of-2 attempts to keep the Roadrunners in the lead. Williams missed a layup on the ensuing Roadrunner possession. A jump ball gave UCI the ball back with 37.1 seconds to go.

The Anteaters went to Sutherland who got a look at an open layup but she missed, Williams got the rebound and was fouled. Williams connected on both free throws for a 66-63 advantage. After a timeout out with 24 seconds to play, the 'Eaters went for the quick two, taking 19 seconds off the clock. The shot was good for Raelyn Cheung-Sutton. At 66-65, CSUB called timeout. Outland was fouled on the inbounds pass from Williams.

1.3 seconds came off the clock before Outland went to the free throw line. She sank both for a 68-65 score. UCI inbounded the ball, passing it to Cheung-Sutton. Her attempt went off the front of the rim at the buzzer giving the 'Runners the victory and the 2014-15 series sweep from the 'Eaters.

Williams reset her career highs with 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the Roadrunners. Outland, who missed last Saturday's game at No. 12/15 Nebraska due to a sprained right foot, started and scored 15 points. Zempare charted her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The 6-2 forward was 6-of-7 from the floor.

“Erika is getting better and better and tonight we were able to go to her,” McCall said. “I was a little nervous about using Ty, but she came to me and asked to leave her in the game to get her rhythm and she got better as the game went along.”

Chavez and Fajemisin each scored 16 to lead the Anteaters. Onogomuho had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. CSU Bakersfield shot 34.3% (29-70) from the field, but the 'Runners held UCI to 32.8% from the floor (21-64). Both teams grabbed 47 rebounds and both teams had 13 assists.  

The Roadrunners return home Sunday when CSUB hosts UNLV at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

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