BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Behind a game high 23 points from Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS), CSU Bakersfield rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat UNLV 74-71 Sunday afternoon in the Icardo Center. 

UNLV ended the first half on a 12-0 run, taking a 38-29 advantage into the break. The Lady Rebels outrebounded CSU Bakersfield 14-1 at one point during the opening stanza and would hold a 32-14 advantage in the category at halftime. UNLV made seven of its first 12 shot attempts, going 43.3% from the field for the half (13-30). The Lady Rebels held the 'Runners to 27% shooting (10-37) in the first frame. The Roadrunners forced 12 first half UNLV turnovers which were turned into 13 points.

“We had bad shooting night and they were able to get a lot of rebounds,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall. “We were getting the shots we wanted, but we couldn't convert on layups that we missed and wide open (three-point field goals) that we normally make that we missed.”

CSUB chipped away, taking the lead for the first time since the 13:21 mark of the first half when Outland made 1-of-2 free throw attempts. Behind a 55.2% shooting performance from the field in the second half (16-29), the Roadrunners would lead by as many four before a Nikki Wheatley three-point play tied the score at 66 with 3:24 to play.

“I told our team if we make those shots that we want to get and just keep continuing to do what we are doing, we can't shoot that bad in the second half,” McCall said. “We shot 55% in the second half from the same exact looks we were getting in the first half. Credit our defense as well. Our defense held strong and they got some good looks at the end, but when we needed to get stops, we did.”

The 'Runners took the lead for good when Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) stole a Wheatley pass and tossed the ball to Outland for a layup with just over three to play. With CSUB leading by four with 64 seconds remaining, UNLV's Aley Rhode made a layup. After turning the ball over, Roadrunner point guard Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) made a steal to get the ball back and went the distance for a layup and a four point lead.

On the ensuing UNLV possession Alana Cesarz converted a short jumper for a72-70 CSUB lead. The Lady Rebels got a stop on the defensive end of the floor which led to Rohde being fouled. Rohde, who was 4-for-4 from the line on the day, missed the front end of the two-shot attempt. The 6-4 post made the second attempt which led to Outland being fouled when the Roadrunners inbounded the ball. Outland made both free throws for the final 74-71 score.

“When the pressure is on you a little bit more and you got a little bit hungrier feel in your mouth for what you need to do and what you need to accomplish, you are going to go out there and try to do that,” McCall said. “That's what we did in the second half.”

The Roadrunners would force a total of 21 UNLV turnovers, scoring 25 points for the game of their opponent mistakes. The Lady Rebels ended the afternoon with 50 rebounds, 21 more than the Roadrunners.

The CSUB-UNLV game was played in front of 1,245 fans, a new Icardo Center attendance record for the Roadrunners. The old Division I record was 805, set against UC Santa Barbara Jan. 31, 2009. The previous overall mark for the Icardo Center was 1,216 which occurred Nov. 21, 2003 against Western Oregon.

Outland scored 13 of her 23 in the second half. The 5-9 wing also led the 'Runners in assists with five, grabbed three rebounds, and made two steals. Zemparae tallied all 13 of her points in the second half and ended the game with her second consecutive double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds). The 6-2 forward also made a career high five steals. Shannon had a season high 15 points and four assists. Brooklynn Hinkens (Sr., Lake Tapps, Wash., Auburn-Riverside HS) added 11.

UNLV was led by Cesarz who scored 20 points and had eight rebounds. Rohde scored 13 points and charted nine rebounds while Danielle Miller scored 12. Wheatley had 10.

The Roadrunners continue the three-game holiday home stand Tuesday when CSUB hosts Hawai'i at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~