CHICAGO—CSU Bakersfield defeated Chicago State for the ninth consecutive time in women's basketball play Saturday as the Roadrunners earned a 74-61 victory in Western Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.

CSUB connected on its first three field goal attempts to take a 10-4 lead to open the game. Chicago State responded with eight consecutive points to lead by two at the first quarter media timeout. The Cougars would make 9-of-13 field goal attempts (69%) in the first period to take a 24-21 lead after 10 minutes.

With the Roadrunners trailing 26-25 midway through the second, a pair of Addi Walters three-pointers sparked a 10-2 CSUB run that returned the lead to the 'Runners.  CSUB held the Cougars to 3-of-13 shooting in the second quarter, but Chicago State's Kaylee Allen kept the Cougars in the game. Allen exactly half of the Chicago State (4-19, 2-7 WAC) points before picking up her second foul with just over three minutes to play. Only three players would score for the Cougars in the first half, but would only trail the Roadrunners by five, 39-34, at the break.

Chicago State cut the CSUB lead to 47-42 midway through the third when Sh'Toya Sanders was called for a foul on Alyssa Shannon as she went through the lane. She was also called for technical foul on the play. Shannon made all four free throw attempts which jumpstarted a 7-0 spurt and gave the 'Runners a 12-point advantage. CSUB would lead 59-48 upon the conclusion of the third quarter.

"Sanders' foul was a huge turnaround in the game," said CSUB head coach Greg McCall. "When she fouled out, it took away a post player who could guard Batabe and Brittany down low."

The Roadrunners extended the lead to 63-51 two minutes into the fourth. The Cougars clawed back, scoring four straight to force a CSUB timeout.  The Roadrunners got a basket from Brittany Sims to make it a 10-point game. CSUB got a defensive stop which led to an Alexxus Gilbert jumper and a 67-55 lead.

Allen was fouled and her free throws made it a 10-point game. Walters responded with a jumper. A Jessica Cerder basket again cut the CSUB lead to 10 with just over two to play.  Chicago State forced a 'Runner miss which led to Allen being fouled. She missed both attempts to keep the CSUB lead in double digits.

The Cougars began to press which led to a Batabe Zempare layup. Down 71-59, Allen missed a jumper which went out of bounds giving CSUB the ball. Chicago State was under the foul limit and were forced to foul twice to send Walters to the free throw line. She converted 1-of-2 attempts. Layne Murphy grabbed the rebound on the second shot and called timeout. Chicago State couldn't take advantage as Allen missed a layup out of the break. Gilbert got the rebound and was fouled. She made both of her free throw attempts for a 74-59 score. A Jasmine Sanders basket with 12 seconds to go created the final 74-61 score.

Walters led the Roadrunners with 17 points. Zempare reset her career high for made free throws in a game as went 8-of-9 from the charity stripe in the first quarter. Her previous high from the line was seven set during the 2013-14 season. She just missed her 29th career double-double as she scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. She also added three steals. Shannon was 8-of-8 from the free throw line as she scored 14 points.

Allen would score a game high 28 points. Jasmine Sanders had 13 while Jessica Cerda posted 11. Only five Chicago State players would score After a hot start, the Cougars would only make 13-of-41 field goal attempts in the final three quarters (40.7%). CSUB shot 45.1% from the floor (23-of-51) and made 24-of-29 free throw attempts (82.8%).

"We knew that they were an improved team from the first time we played them this year," McCall said. "We were able to execute on the offensive end and once we were able to adjust defensively, we were able to get the stops we needed."

The Roadrunners (8-16, 5-4 WAC) travel to Utah Valley (11-12, 4-4 WAC) next Saturday for a 3 p.m. (MST) tip. CSUB returns home Feb. 18 when the 'Runners host NM State at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com for the WAC Digital Game of the Week.

~www.GoRunners.com~