CSUB women edge Irvine, 77-75
| Monday, Nov 23 2009 10:32 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 23 2009 11:00 PM
It wasn't the best performance by the Cal State Bakersfield women's basketball team Monday night, but it was good enough for a win.
The Roadrunners struggled throughout much of the game but had enough at the end in a 77-75 win over UC Irvine in the Icardo Center.
Phynique Allen had her collegiate career high 27 points for CSUB and the Roadrunners (2-2) got a solid effort from backup center Jana Smith, who had 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks while defending a player 4 inches taller. But the rest of the team struggled.
"It shows the growth of our team to not play well and still get a quality win," CSUB coach Tim La Kose said.
Irvine (1-3) had a 51-37 rebounding edge, with 22 offensive rebounds. Both teams were ravaged by turnovers - 23 by Irvine and 20 by CSUB.
One game after hitting a school-record 15 3-pointers against Hawaii, CSUB was only 3-of-12 on 3s Monday. Irvine was only 4-of-17, including a 30-footer at the final buzzer that only made the final score more respectable.
CSUB gave up far too many breakaway layups, particularly in the first half. Irvine would release two guards whenever the Roadrunners took a shot, and with 6-foot-4 Kim Barnes, 5-9 Jazmyne White and 5-11 Kiara Belen combining for 21 boards, the Anteaters would heave the ball downcourt to teammates who consistently got behind the CSUB defense.
"Irvine forces you to do things you're not used to," La Kose said.
Irvine never caught up after CSUB took a 22-20 lead on an Allen basket with 9:23 left in the first half. Four times Irvine pulled within one and had the ball with a chance to take the lead but couldn't score.
With 22 seconds left, Allen hit two free throws to make it a seven-point game, but a turnover and three Anteater baskets made it close at the end.
"We needed to pick it up defensively," Allen said of CSUB's play down the stretch. "We did get some stops and scores in crunch time."
Allen's 27 points topped her previous collegiate high of 26 she had when playing for Eastern Washington in 2007. Her CSUB career high was 22 points prior to Monday.
"Our seniors did a nice job getting composed," La Kose said. "Jana (Smith) had one of her better games."
Barnes had 20 points and Jade Smith-Williams added 15 for Irvine.
