BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) scored a season high 29 points to lead CSU Bakersfield to a 73-61 Western Athletic Conference women's basketball victory Saturday afternoon in the Icardo Center.

CSUB struggled early, turning the ball over 10 times in the first nine minutes. SU controlled the offensive boards, recording 18 of their 28 first half rebounds on the offensive glass. A Taelor Ross tip-in with 2:50 to play gave Seattle U its largest lead of game, 31-23. The Roadrunners scored the next six points to tie the game. A late foul resulted in a pair of Wilma Afungo free throws and a two-point SU 33-31 halftime lead. CSU Bakersfield was called for nine fouls and were outrebounded 28-25 by the Redhawks. Outland kept the 'Runners in the game with 15 first half points.

“We let the officiating get to us in the first half,” CSUB head coach Greg McCall said. “I told our players we had to play though that. In fact they were letting us play our style of game. So let's go out and do that. When we finally made the adjustment to that late in the first half, I thought we came back and did a good job.”

The Roadrunners opened the second half on a 14-5 run to take a 45-38 lead eight minutes into the second half. The CSUB defense forced 11 Seattle second half turnovers and held the Redhawks to eight field goals as the 'Runners would push the lead to as much as a 17 down the stretch. CSUB shot 50% (14-28) from the field in the closing frame, led by Outland who was 6-of-11 from the field.

“In the second half, we were able to do what we wanted to do,” said McCall. “We played physical and turned the game around. One of the things about Seattle is that they are not very well conditioned, they always get tired, especially when you pick up (your defense) full court.”

Outland scored at least 20 points in a game for the 32nd time in her career. The 5-9 wing was 11-of-20 from the field for the game and was 5-of-6 from the free throw line. She grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists. Outland, the all-time leading scorer at CSUB, is now 12 points away from scoring 2,000 points in her career.

Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) earned her 13th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Erika Williams (R-So., Fresno, Calif., Diamond Ranch HS) added 11 for CSUB.

Ross led Seattle U with 20 points. The 6-2 center was 9-of-14 from the field before fouling out. Renee Dillard-Brown scored 13 points and grabbed a team high nine rebounds. CSUB outshot SU 44.1% (26-of-59) to 28.9% (22-of-76). Seattle would outrebound CSU Bakersfield 48-46, 26-16 on the offensive glass. CSUB turned the ball over 22 times, compared to 17 for the Redhawks.

“Things aren't going to go our way, the most important thing is that we play our style of play,” McCall said. “When we play our style, good things are going to happen. I thought we did a much better job boxing out and limiting them to one shot in the second half.”

CSUB closes the regular season next Saturday when the Roadrunners host Utah Valley. Tip is set for 1 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~