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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Team Huddle
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
79
Winner UC Riverside UCR 6-8
67
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 4-9
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
6-8
79
Final
67
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
4-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UC Riverside UCR 20 21 18 20 79
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 11 22 19 15 67

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Three Finish With Double Figures In 67-79 Loss



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield women's basketball team picked up its seventh straight loss with a 67-79 decision at home against future Big West Conference foe UC Riverside on New Year's Eve. The Highlanders would improve 6-8 while the Roadrunners fell 4-9 on the year.
 
"On paper, us fouling and sending them to the free throw line killed us this afternoon," said head coach Greg McCall. "Still, I felt our intensity wasn't there today, which is something I'm not used to."
 
Bakersfield opened the first quarter with a driving layup from JJ Johnson, but UCR would go on a 14-0 run before Vanessa Austin scored two points in the paint to make it a 10-point game with 3:46 left in the period. A 9-6 edge to close the quarter brought the `Runners within nine at the end of the first.
 
CSUB made a 6-0 run in the first minute of the second period and cut the deficit to three points but the Highlanders would respond with their own 5-0 run and extend their lead 25-17 with just under eight minutes to play in the half. Bakersfield brought the score within two, 27-29, with 4:37 left on the clock before UCR went on a 12-6 run to close the half and lead 41-33 at halftime.
 
The Roadrunners came within four points of the visiting team early in the third after holding them scoreless for the first two minutes of the period. Daphne Gnago lifted the Highlanders 48-41 with two points in the paint with just under six minutes left in the quarter. Down seven again, Bakersfield knocked down back-to-back triples to bring the score within one but an 8-2 run to close the third gave UCR a seven-point lead entering the final 10 minutes of regulation.
 
UC Riverside outscored Bakersfield 20-15 in the fourth quarter, using a 12-6 run through the first five minutes of the period to extend their lead 71-58. The squads would trade baskets to close the period for the final, 79-67, score.
 
"Nonconference ended today and although we didn't get the result we wanted our focus has already shifted to conference," explained McCall. "We're excited about this second half of the season. This is where it all counts. This loss is behind us. We'll begin to prepare for two quality opponents in practice tomorrow and look towards getting this ugly taste out of our mouths."
 
Three `Runners finished in double figures including Alexxus Gilbert (20), Malayasia McHenry (17), and Johnson. McHenry posted her third double-double on the season with 12 rebounds.
 
"I want to thank all of the alumni that came out today and those who helped make the event possible," added McCall. "It was great to see some of our former players that have helped build this program from the ground up come back and support us."
 
UP NEXT
The CSU Bakersfield women's basketball team will open Western Athletic Conference action this week when the Roadrunners head to Seattle U and Utah Valley on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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