BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Erin Butler's three-pointer with 29 seconds remaining broke the 11th tie of the game as Pacific defeated CSU Bakersfield 80-74 Friday night in the women's basketball opener for both schools.  The Tigers' victory broke the Roadrunners' 22-game home winning streak which dated back to Jan. 2014 and was the fifth longest in Division I.

Alexxus Gilbert put CSUB up 69-68 with 3:39 to go in the fourth quarter before Hailie Eackles tied the game with a free throw at the 2:41 mark. Erika Williams put CSUB ahead with a three-pointer exactly one minute later. Butler hit a deep three to tie it on the ensuing Pacific possession.  

After forcing a CSUB turnover, Butler hit a 15-foot jumper to give the Tigers a 74-72 lead with 56 seconds to play. Batabe Zempare tied the score for the final time with a layup on the next Roadrunner possession. Pacific quickly pushed the ball up the court, finding Butler in the corner for the game winning three.

CSUB called timeout and took advantage of the new NCAA women's basketball rule, advancing the ball to half court. The Roadrunners looked inside for Zempare but point guard Alyssa Shannon was double teamed and turned the ball over.  The final three points for the Tigers came from the free throw line and secured the victory.

Zempare led the Roadrunners with her 23rd career double-double of 19 points and 19 rebounds. Freshman Addi Walters scored 13 while Shannon and Williams both had 11. GeAnna Luaulu-Summers led the Tigers with 19 points and nine rebounds. Butler had 17 while Eackles scored 11. 

The Tigers scored 15 points off of 16 CSUB turnovers while the Roadrunners scored only nine off of 16 Pacific mistakes. CSUB outscored the Tigers 36-34 in the paint.

“Our transition defense was not good,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall. “We broke down defensively and that allowed Pacific to get a lot of easy buckets. We have to do a better job of communicating going forward. Our team played really hard. We knew that they were a good team and that we were going to be challenged, but we should have been the better team. We will regroup and comeback stronger.”

The Roadrunners travel to UC Santa Barbara on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip. CSUB returns home Nov. 22 when the Roadrunners host San José State at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com. The game can also be seen on the WAC Digital Network.

~www.GoRunners.com~