ANCHORAGE, Alaska– For the second time in the last three seasons, California Baptist will play for the NCAA Women’s Basketball West Region title. The second-seeded Lancers beat No. 3 Western Washington, 80-68, Saturday night to reach the regional final. CBU will face No. 5 Simon Fraser on Monday at 8 p.m. PT.
Courtney Nelson scored a game-high 22 points and had four assists.
Kamille Diaz had 13 points, eight assists and three steals, and
Tori Mitchell had 13 points and 10 rebounds. CBU outrebounded Western Washington 44-30, and shot 20-for-24 at the free throw line.
Trailing 25-19 after the first quarter, the Lancers took control with a 15-point edge in the second quarter to take a 45-35 halftime lead. Nelson scored the first six points for the Lancers in the second quarter. CBU never trailed in the second half, answering every Viking charge. A three-point play cut the deficit to one later in the third quarter, but Diaz and Nelson both made layups as WWU missed five shots in the final minute to make it 60-55. Western Washington went the final three minutes without a point, allowing CBU to go on an 8-0 to clinch the win.