COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sparked by a big run to start the second half, No. 2 California Baptist beat No. 7 West Florida, 77-69, in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Elite Eight Tuesday afternoon. The Lancers advance to play No. 6 Virginia Union in the semifinals on Wednesday at 3 p.m. PDT.
Cassidy Mihalko scored a game-high 21 points, and had nine rebounds and three steals.
Kamille Diaz added 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Courtney Nelson had 10 points and
Erin Asher had 10.
West Florida went on a 9-2 run early in the second quarter to go up, 26-18. Seven was the largest lead the Argonauts would enjoy, as CBU rattled off 12-straight points to regain control and a Mihalko three-point play put the Lancers up, 37-35, at halftime.
CBU came out of the locker room on fire, making five three-pointers in a 19-2 run through the first six minutes of the third quarter that stretched the lead to 56-39. Diaz made three from deep and Asher made the other two, while West Florida went five minutes into the period before its first field goal. Diaz made another three to put CBU up by 20 for the first time and the Lancers led by 13 after three quarters. West Florida cut the deficit down to single digits twice in the fourth, but couldn’t match CBU’s offensive firepower.