LAS VEGAS, Nev.—CSU Bakersfield defeated Chicago State 77-53 to advance to the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament Wednesday night at the Orleans Arena.

CSUB got off to a slow start, trailing the Cougars 9-4 into the first media timeout.  The Roadrunners came out of the time out on a 14-2 run that gave CSUB a seven point lead at the second media timeout of the opening stanza. Chicago State made only one field goal in nine attempts during the four-minute span. CSUB pushed the run to 21-2 before Paris Williams made a pair of free throws at the 10:13 mark.

“I thought we came out a little sluggish,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall.

The Roadrunners went cold again, scoring only two points a 4+ minute span before Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) made three consecutive three-point field goals to give CSUB a 40-27 halftime lead. Chicago State made four of its first seven field goal attempts to begin the game. From the first media timeout on, the Cougars were 5-of-24. After beginning the game 2-of-5 from the field, CSUB made 14 of its final 24 attempts to shoot 55.2% for the half.

“We had the first game jitters,” McCall said. “It was a slow start. They came out and hit us in the mouth first, that's something we normally like to do. We got it under control and started to use our style of play.”

CSUB outscored the Cougars 37-30 in the second half as both teams shot under 40% (9-25 for Chicago State, 12-33 for CSUB). The Roadrunners would force 19 turnovers which were turned into 16 points. CSUB made 14 steals. CSUB out-rebounded Chicago State 39-37, scoring 21 points second chance opportunities. Four of the five CSUB starters scored in double figures, led by Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) who had 17. Outland added seven rebounds, a team high six assists, and two steals.

Broolynn Hinkens (Sr., Lake Tapps, Wash., Auburn-Riverside HS) posted 14 while Shannon ended the night with 12 after make four of her five three-point attempts. Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) tallied her 14th double-double of the year as she scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

CSUB reset the school Division I record for most wins in a season with 23 (23-7), breaking the old record of 22 which was set in 2010-11.

The Cougars' (4-25) Paris Williams was 10-of-11 from the free throw line on the way to a game high 21 points. Layne Murphy had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Chicago State bench was outscored by their Roadrunner counterparts 22-2.

“We played really hard defensively,” McCall said. That's what is going to get us through the rest of the way. We were able to create a lot of turnovers. Overall, I thought it was a good game. It's just one game, we have a long way to go in this tournament.”

The Roadrunners, who have won eight in a row and 11 of their past 12, will take on the winner of Wednesday night's matchup between the No. 3 seed Texas-Pan American and the No. 6 seed Missouri-Kansas City at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 13 at the Orleans Arena. For more ticket information head to wacsports.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~