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Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography
46
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 3-3
45
Southern Utah SUU 1-5
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
3-3
46
Final
45
Southern Utah SUU
1-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7 11 13 15 46
Southern Utah SUU 11 8 12 14 45

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Williams Dominant In Win Over Southern Utah

CEDAR CITY, UT – 'Runners senior Aja Williams had one of those nights against Southern Utah and it was not good news for the Thunderbirds.  The `Runners would win 46-45 behind 17 points and 11 rebounds from Williams, both game highs.  CSUB improves to 3-3 on the year and SUU falls to 1-5.

"All the way down to the buzzer, the girls hung tough," said Greg McCall, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We played really well defensively. We struggled a little bit offensively, but we got the buckets we needed and got the stops we needed. I'm proud we got that first road win. It was a tough atmosphere because of the altitude."

The first media timeout would come at the 6:42 mark of the first quarter and Southern Utah led 4-0.  But out of the timeout, `Runners sophomore Daije Harris would drain an eight footer for the first points of the night for CSUB.  A sloppy first quarter for both teams, eleven turnovers between the two teams, but Williams drained a three near the end of the first quarter and CSUB only trailed 11-7 after one.

The `Runners would go on a 9-4 run into the media timeout of the second quarter and CSUB would only trail 15-13 with 4:58 remaining in the half.  The `Runners only trailed by one at the half, 19-18 and it was CSUB's defense that kept them in the game.  Williams had 10 points at the half to lead all scorers.  CSUB held the Thunderbirds without a field goal for the last 7:22 of the half and scoreless for the remaining 3:09 of the half. 

In the first half, Southern Utah shot 7-22 from the field, 0-6 from three point range in the first half and 5-8 from the free throw line.  The `Runners were 8-30 from the field, 2-12 from behind the arc and shot zero free throws.

Halfway through the third quarter, the media timeout came when senior Jazmyne Bartee of the `Runners was fouled going to the hoop and the `Runners trailed 24-21.  Bartee would make both free throws after the break and CSUB cut SUU's lead to one.  With 3:11 remaining in the third quarter, Williams would drain her third 3-pointer of the night and CSUB led 27-26. 

The game would be tied at 31 at the end of three quarters.  Williams had 14 points through three to lead all scorers and also had eight rebounds.  And both teams seemed to find some offensive rhythm heading into the fourth quarter.

A quick 8-2 spurt by the Thunderbirds to open the fourth and SUU led CSUB 39-33 with 7:43 remaining in the game.  But the `Runners would go on a run of their own, at the most important time, the end of the game.  CSUB would finish the game on a 13-6 run to get the victory. 

Williams, finished 6-15 from the field and 4-7 from three point range, was the star of the show on this night. Besides leading all players in points and rebounds, the senior from Jackson, MS made the biggest defensive play of the night.  With seven seconds remaining, Williams would get the steal to prevent SUU the opportunity to win the game.  The `Runners would call timeout and would be able to run out the remaining 7 seconds for the 46-45 victory.

"Aja had a really good game," McCall said. "Jaz Bartee also played really well tonight. Our two seniors stepped up when we needed them most. Aja had crucial steal down the stretch that helped seal the win."

CSUB held the Thunderbirds to 34% shooting from the field and 3-16 (19%) from three point range.  That is a dominant defensive performance by the `Runners.

The Roadrunners will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 3, when they travel to Dallas, Texas for a game against SMU.
 
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