Box Score SAN JOSE, Calif. – The 1-1 CSU Bakersfield women's basketball team traveled to Northern California for a game at San Jose State on Friday night.
The `Runners are coming off a 74-63 victory in their home opener over Fresno Pacific, while the Spartans came into their home opener at 0-1 after losing by 60 to #8 UCLA.
The Spartans jumped out to a 17-8 lead behind two three pointers from Analyss Benally and the `Runners had to take a timeout with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter. SJSU jumped out to a big 26-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and had seven different players score and the Spartans were 4-4 from three point range. The `Runners were led by Gilbert's four points to open the game, but SJSU would outscore CSUB 26-6 the rest of the quarter.
After a rough first quarter, the Runners were able to get back into the game with a strong defensive effort in the second quarter. CSUB outscored the Spartans 16-6 in the second quarter and cut the 16 point deficit after one to a six point deficit at half.
Junior
Malaysia McHenry led CSUB with seven points and three boards at the break.
Alexxus Gilbert and
Jazmyne Bartee both chipped in with six points for the `Runners as well. The Spartans were eight of ten from the charity stripe, while the `Runners made one of their four free throws and that was really the difference in the first half.
The Spartans outscored CSUB in the third quarter 15-12 to extend their lead to nine, a 47-38 lead. Bartee continues to look game by game that she is getting closer and closer to 100% and put her stamp on the third quarter. The senior transfer from UNLV led the `Runners in points with nine and rebounds with six after three quarters.
CSUB opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run in the first 1:41 to cut the SJSU lead to 47-45. `Runners sophomore
Dalis Jones hit a three pointer with 7:39 remaining in regulation and the `Runners had their first lead of the game, 48-47, since they led 4-0. But the Spartans would go on a 12-2 run and get the lead back and extend it to nine, 59-50. The Spartans would go on and get the 67-57 victory.
"It was a tough loss," said
Greg McCall, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We battled all the way back to be in the game at the end. We had a lot of mental errors, a lot of fundamental errors down the stretch, but I'm very proud of how hard we battled to get ourselves back into position to win it. Now we just have to learn how to go out and win it with this young group."
The `Runners were led in scoring by Bartee's 13 points and the senior also added eight rebounds. CSUB's
Jazmine Johnson added 12 points and
Aja Williams had six points and nine rebounds.
CSUB shot 29.6% from the field and were 4-21, 19% from behind the arc. The Spartans shot 38.5% from the field and were 7-19 from three point range.
"We'll try to get focused for Stanford, which will be a good game for us to get focused and bounce back," McCall said.
The `Runners fall to 1-2 on the season and will finish the two game trip to Northern California against #9 Stanford on Sunday, Nov. 19 with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the PAC-12 Network.
