PHOENIX, Ariz. - CSU Bakersfield's women's basketball team opened league action at Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon. A contest that saw two tied score and one lead change would go in favor of CSUB as the Roadrunners took care of business on the road and handed the Lopes their first conference loss.
With the win, Bakersfield opens WAC unbeaten and joins NM State, Utah Valley, Rio Grande Valley and Kansas City.
It was a game of sizable runs from Bakersfield that were answered with smaller runs from the Lopes to keep the game within reach. A dominant showing from the Roadrunners, including twenty-eight points off the bench gave the visitors the edge to claim the victory.
GCU turned up the heat in the second period to erase a ten-point deficit built by the `Runners but a triple drilled by redshirt sophomore Jasmin Dixon at the buzzer put CSUB up three, 23-20, at halftime.
Bakersfield was up by as much as nine points in the third but allowed the Lopes to close the gap again. At the end of the third, CSUB led by five.
GCU trailed by nine points three times in the contest but responded each run with their own to remain in striking distance. A nine-point lead in the fourth quarter was turned into a four-point lead with under four minutes in the game.
A little over two minutes without a bucket for CSUB allowed the Lopes to tie the contest late in the fourth. A key three ball from Ashley Austin and free throws sealed the contest as Bakersfield ran off with the win.
Andie Easley led Bakersfield in scoring with eleven points while Vanessa Austin paced the `Runners on the glass with seven rebounds. Miracle Saxon joined Easley in double figures with ten points. Jayden Eggleston, Dalis Jones and Lexus Green each added eight points.
~GoRunners.com~
