HENDERSON, Nev. – CSU Bakersfield women's basketball was one made basket from knocking off top-seeded Hawai'i in the opening Big West quarterfinal Wednesday afternoon. It would come down to the last seconds of the contest similar to the Roadrunners' first round thriller, but the Rainbow Wahine would squeak by in the end, 48-47.
Jayden Eggleston and Vanessa Austin each walked away with game-bests in their final game with the `Runners. Eggleston had a game-high 18 points while Vanessa Austin finished with 10 points and paced everyone on the glass with nine rebounds.
CSUB had just two points in the first five minutes of the opening quarter but credit its stingy defense on keeping the game within reach, 5-2. With two and a half minutes left in the period Hawai'i led, 7-4, before going on a 7-0 run – their largest lead of the game. UH would hold on for a seven-point led, 14-7.
Bakersfield was within two points, 15-17, of the tournament-favorite early in the second and again, 17-19, with 3:50 remaining. Hawai'i led three points in the last 20 seconds of the period before a Roadrunners foul and pair of UH free throws gave them a five-point lead at halftime, 24-19.
CSUB would continue to stay on the heels of Hawai'i. The difference was four points midway through the third, 30-26. Shortly after, UH had built a nine-point advantage putting some space between them and the `Runners. CSUB's defense would be key once more down the stretch playing the Rainbow Wahine to a two-possession game, 33-39.
Behind a 10-0 run, the `Runners would take a four-point lead four and a half minutes left in the final period. Bakersfield extended its lead to five (45-40) before six unanswered points allowed UH to retake the lead with under two minutes. There were two more lead changes following as the Rainbow Wahine led, 48-47, with 14 seconds to go. Bakersfield saw two different opportunities but would come up short aiding top-seeded Hawai'i in their escape.
Hawai'i advances to the semifinals of the 2022 Hercules Tires Big West Championship playing fourth-seeded UC Riverside Friday afternoon.
~GoRunners.com~
