BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) scored 22 of her game high 26 points in the second half as CSU Bakersfield (10-3) defeated LIU Brooklyn (3-8) 84-53 Tuesday night.

Using a press, the Blackbirds forced 12 CSUB turnovers in the first half; but could only score four points off of the Roadrunner mistakes.  Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) went 7-for-9 in the first, scoring 15 points to pace the 'Runners to a 37-33 halftime lead.

CSUB opened the second half on a 23-5 run, outscoring the Blackbirds 36-8 at one point, and held LIU to just six field goals (in 30 attempts) in the half. The Roadrunners made 14 of their first 25 field goal attempts of the second and would go onto record a season high shooting percentage at 48.6% (34-of-70) for the game. CSUB forced 13 LIU second half turnovers which resulted in 18 points (compared to 0 for LIU).

“We always talk about our defense and making adjustments at halftime,” said CSU Bakersfield head coach Greg McCall. “Once we made those adjustments, we were able to turn up the pressure on them. As a result we were able to turn it up on offense and get some easy buckets.”

The Roadrunners held the Blackbirds to 31.6% shooting (18-for-57) and forced 26 Blackbirds' turnovers. CSUB outrebounded LIU 46-36. Sophie Bhasin, who scored 13 points to lead LIU in the first half, did not score in the second.

“We really worked on eliminating (Bhasin's) touches,” McCall said. “Ty (Outland) did a really good job of defending her.”

Outland went 8-for-10 in the closing stanza as she made 10-of-17 field goal attempts on the night. She grabbed five rebounds and had two steals. Zempare recorded her fourth consecutive double-double as she ended the night with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) scored 16 points, dished out six assists, and made three steals. Brianna Farris scored 10 points off the bench for the Blackbirds.

The Roadrunners travel to Cal Poly on Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup. CSUB returns home Tuesday, Jan. 6 when the 'Runners host UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

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