BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-Brooklynn Hinkens (Sr., Lake Tapps, Wash., Auburn-Riverside HS) scored a game high 17 points to lead CSU Bakersfield (11-4) past UC Santa Barbara 74-64 Tuesday night.

The Roadrunners struggled at the start, missing six of their first seven shots as the Gauchos 6-9 from the field to begin the game. UC Santa Barbara (0-13) led for much of the opening stanza, taking its largest lead, 21-14 at the 8:48 mark. The 'Runners mounted a charge, using a 8-2 run to get within one, 23-22 before tying the game at 27 on a Lunden Junious-Reliford (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., LA Valley College) tip-in. CSUB took its first lead of the half when Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) put back her own missed jump with 1:27 remaining.   

The Roadrunners led 29-27 at halftime. CSUB took its largest lead of the game to that point, six, with 16:27 to go in the second half when the Gauchos went on an 11-0 run to lead 49-44. The Roadrunners responded with a 20-6 spurt of their own to take a 64-55 lead into the final media timeout of the second.

“We tried to stress to our kids that even though UCSB didn't have a winning record, they were going to play hard,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall.

The Gauchos chopped away at the Roadrunner lead, making it 64-60 on a Chaya Durr three-point play with just over two minutes to play. On the ensuing Roadrunner possession, Brittany Sims (So., Fresno, Calif., Edison HS) was fouled. She missed both of her attempts, but got the offensive rebound on the second shot. Sims was fouled by Jasmine Ware. Ware was then whistled for a technical foul. Hinkens, who is shooting 90.9% from the charity stripe on the season, made both for a six point advantage.

After a defensive stop, CSUB's Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) was fouled. She connected on both attempts for an eight-point Bakersfield lead. After a Gauchos' offensive foul, Shannon was again fouled and the 5-2 point guard pushed the lead to 70-60 with another pair of free throws, putting the game away for the 'Runners.

CSU Bakersfield, which entered the night fourth in Division I in free throw shooting, sank its final 10 free throw attempts on the night and was 15-of-18 from the charity stripe (83.3%). Hinkens made 5-of-10 three-point attempts and added three steals. Outland scored 15 points, dished out a career high eight assists, and grabbed six rebounds. Erika Williams (R-So., Fresno, Calif., Diamond Ranch HS) made 3-of-4 three-point attempts, ending the game with 11 points.

The Gauchos were led by Onome Jemerigbe who had 16 points and five assists. Durr scored 15 and grabbed a game high eight rebounds. Ware would score 12. UC Santa Barbara outrebounded CSUB 33-29, but the Roadrunners forced 20 Gauchos' turnovers which resulted in 21 points. The Roadrunner bench outscored its UCSB counterparts 22-15. CSUB improved to 9-0 at home this season. CSUB was won 25 of its last 26 games at home since Jan. of 2013.

“I thought our bench did a really job tonight,” McCall said. “Our team responded to the challenge UCSB presented tonight.”

CSUB opens Western Athletic Conference play Saturday when the 'Runners host Grand Canyon at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

“Saturday begins a new season,” McCall said. “Everything starts over, we are 0-0 and we have to come out get our first victory on Saturday. We have a lot of experience and a lot of depth where as many teams in our league do not have that. I am very confident in our team and have the potential to win an outright conference title.”

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