PHOENIX, Ariz.—CSU Bakersfield rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Grand Canyon 65-60 Saturday night at GCU Arena.

Grand Canyon (9-12, 3-5 WAC) used a 14-3 run over the final 5:28 of the first half to take a 34-24 halftime lead.  The 'Runners led 21-20 when the Antelopes' Madison Craig hit back-to-back three-pointers to begin the game changing run.  CSUB went cold from the field during the span, missing 13 of 15 field goal tries and would only make nine field goals in 35 first half attempts in the opening frame.

"We played hard in the first half, but we didn't do good job of shooting," said CSUB head coach Greg McCall.

The Roadrunners sped to a 7-0 spurt to open the second half, cutting the GCU advantage to three. After going down by seven, CSUB recorded a 13-4 run that put the 'Runners up one, 52-51 on a Shaquita Smith (Sr., Buffalo, N.Y., ASA College) bucket.

The 'Lopes took the lead back the next time down on a pair of Mikahela Connor free throws. On the ensuing Roadrunner possession, Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) put the 'Runners up 54-53. After a defensive stop, Brooklynn Hinkens (Sr., Lake Tapps, Wash., Auburn-Riverside HS) gave CSUB a three-point lead with a layup.

Both teams tightened on defense. Grand Canyon called a 30-second timeout with just over three minutes to play. GCU called a second timeout when they couldn't get the ball in. The Roadrunner defense forced an Antelopes' turnover which resulted in a Smith jumper and a five-point Roadrunner advantage.  

CSU Bakersfield (16-7, 5-3 WAC) again turned up the defense, forcing a GCU miss. The Roadrunners worked the ball to Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) who was called for her fifth foul, a charge with 91 seconds to play. Zempare came up with a steal to get the ball back for CSUB.  The Roadrunners called timeout with 65 ticks on the clock. The timeout worked as Smith hit a layup for a 60-53 CSUB lead.

Grand Canyon called timeout with 47 seconds to play. August Touchard missed a three-pointer. The ball went out of bounds and with possession being awarded to the Roadrunners. Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) was fouled on the inbounds pass. She made both to put the 'Runners up by nine.

CSUB was called for a foul as Grand Canyon inbounded the ball. Courtney Hayes made 1-of-2 for a 62-54 Roadrunner lead. Shannon was fouled again, the 5-2 point guard made both again for CSUB's largest lead of the night, 64-54. Casey Rarrick sank a three-pointer with nine seconds for GCU as the Antelopes called timeout. Grand Canyon forced a Shannon turnover with Rarrick hitting another three to make it a four-point game. Courtney Hayes fouled Hinkens immediately. Hinkens connected on 1-of-2 to make it the final 65-60.

"We did a much better job of setting tempo and attacking the paint in the second half," McCall said. "We settled in and made some shots, but we need to do a better job at the free throw line."

The Roadrunners held GCU to three field goals over the final 6+ minutes of the closing frame. Grand Canyon was 6-of-21 shooting in the second half and shot 26.8% (15-of-56) from the field for the game. CSUB went 14-of-31 from the floor in the second half and would record a 34.8% field goal shooting night (23-of-66).

Outland led all scorers with 17 points. Zempare registered her 10th double-double of the year with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Cheyenne Hedrington led GCU with 14 points. Rarrick scored 13.

CSUB returns home Thursday night for a 7 p.m. game against Texas-Pan American. CSUB sits in third in the WAC race, one game behind the Broncs. NM State, who the Roadrunners take on next Saturday, is 8-0 and leads the league. Tickets for all CSUB games are available at vallitix.com.

 ~www.GoRunners.com~