Carson, CA – The Division I bound Roadrunners of Cal State Bakersfield would be too much for the Toros to keep up with, as CSUDH dropped its final conference meeting with CSUB, 77-62. With the loss the Toros fall to 12-10, 9-9 CCAA while CSUB improves to 19-6 and a CCAA leading 16-2 in conference play.
The Roadrunners would be off and running as the ball was tossed for the tip-off, grabbing the lead and holding it until a jumper by Brigayle Iglehart (San Diego, CA/Grossmont College) at the 12:07 mark would give CSUDH its first lead of the game at 17-16.
CSUB would retake the lead two minutes later on a trey by Christin Kepenekian, and hold the lead for the next four minutes.
With the Toros down 25-23 with 6:43 left in the first half, Iglehart would knock down a pair of free throws to knot the game for the third time.
After a 'Runner turnover, CSUDH would grab its first lead in almost six minutes on a bucket by Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS).
CSUB would not let the Toros expand their lead, however, using a pair of free throws by Rhonda Johnson to tie the game at 27-27 with just under six minutes left on the clock.
The Two teams would continue to battle back and forth over the remaining six minutes, with the 'Runners grabbing a slim 40-37 lead heading into intermission.
In the first frame both teams would shoot well with CSUDH shooting 41.2% from the floor and CSUB hitting 48.5% of its shots.
After the break the 'Runners would push their lead to double digits at 49-39 on a trey by Krista Arase with 14:33 on the clock.
Both teams would trade baskets over the next four minutes as CSUB held a 56-45 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
CSUDH would still be down 10 at 62-52 with 6:50 on the clock when a baseline jumper by Aujanee Baldwin (Fontana, CA/Etiwanda HS) cut the deficit to just four at 62-58, but CSUB would respond with an offensive rebound and put-back by Kepenekian to put CSUB up 64-58 with 4:47 left.
The 'Runners would not let up for the remainder of the game and put away the Toros.
CSUB was led by Florida Siaosi's double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds while Arasi garnered game-high scoring honors with 18 points.
The trio of Iglehart, Blankenship, and Baldwin would all score in double-figures for the Toros with 17, 16, and 11 points, respectively.
CSUDH hits the road next weekend at Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona before concluding its regular season the weekend of March 2-3.
