Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Alexxus Gilbert
Nick Ellis
78
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 4-3
85
Winner UC Irvine UCI 6-0
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
4-3
78
Final
85
UC Irvine UCI
6-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 17 16 29 16 78
UC Irvine UCI 21 23 23 18 85

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Gilbert Resets Career-High, Roadrunners Drop Seven Point Decision At UC Irvine



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Senior Alexxus Gilbert led the CSU Bakersfield women's basketball team in scoring for the second straight game but the group dropped a closely contested game at UC Irvine by seven (85-78) on Thursday night. The Roadrunners would pick up their third-straight loss on the road and fall 4-3 while the Anteaters improved 6-0 on the season.
 
"I think our intensity level was where it needed to be for 40 minutes tonight," said head coach Greg McCall. "We came out a bit too anxious and were looking to score too early in the shot clock at times instead of running the play through and finding the best look. We had our opportunities tonight, it just came down to missed free throws and point-blank layups in the end."
 
Bakersfield opened scoring less than 30 seconds into the first quarter with a bucket from JJ Johnson. UC Irvine went on a 7-2 run late in the first before Vanessa Austin got a layup in the paint to stop the run and cut the deficit to nine. The Roadrunners then went on their own 7-0 run to cut the score 21-17 heading into the second quarter.
 
UCI went 9-for-10 from the free throw line and shot 50.0% from the field to outscore CSUB 23-16 in the second and take a 44-33 lead heading into the second half.
 
The Roadrunners used efficient shooting and pressure defense in the third period to claw back into the contest. The veteran group came out poised shooting 50.0% from the field and forcing seven turnovers while only committing four but free throws allowed the home team to stay in the game. The Anteaters went to the free throw line 12 times and added 10 points to their third quarter final score, 67-62.
 
Bakersfield cut the deficit again, this time to just one possession (72-69), in the fourth period coming out of a timeout called by UC Irvine with 7:05 left in regulation. Gilbert netted a shot in the paint to pull within three before Jeri Fears grabbed her fourth rebound and finished a put-back layup to bring the game within one point. Irvine would go on a late run with the help of free throws to extend the lead and final score, 85-78.
 
Four players finished in double figures including Gilbert (22), Johnson (17), Austin (16), and Malayasia McHenry (10). 
 
"We're on track with where we want to be at this point in the year," added McCall. "We're learning. I knew it was going to be a learning process for this team, but they're constantly absorbing what we teach, getting better each day, and focused on the end-game – playing in March."
 
UP NEXT
The CSU Bakersfield women's basketball team will begin its nearly month-long road stint on Saturday with future Big West conference foe Cal State Fullerton (3-4). Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m.
 
~GoRunners.com~
Print Friendly Version
California State University at Bakersfield Athletics loading logo