The `Runners secured a tight overtime victory against Omaha, with Taylor Caldwell making her season debut and Nseije Ortiz starting for the first time.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunners finally hosted their first regular season home game this year against Omaha. In a back-and-forth grind of a game, the `Runners tied the score with half a minute left in the fourth quarter to trigger overtime. There, CSUB sealed a 69-68 victory with nine seconds remaining on a Sophia Tougas three from the post. This OT win gets the `Runners back on track with a win heading back on the road for a few more games.
Notables
- Nseije Ortiz made her starting debut while Taylor Caldwell made her season debut en-route to posting 15 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field.
- CSUB trailed 22-30 at halftime on the back of 18 turnovers but came out with only 7 in the second half and managed a 17-2 run that saw the `Runners lead for most of the half.
- Despite a strong resurge from the Mavericks to bring the game neck-and-neck, the `Runners held on for overtime.
- There were plenty of lead changes in overtime, but Sophia Tougas posted up on the far corner and sank a game-winning three pointer that sent the bench into a frenzy of celebration.
- Sophia Tougas tallied a game-leading 17 points while Kayla Morris also contributed 13 points of her own.
Quotes from Head Coach Greg McCall
- “I know she [Caldwell] was nervous when she first got in . . . but I am so happy for her with how she was battling tonight after all she’s been through, all of the rehab. Both her and Sophia [Tougas] are recovered, so I’m super excited.”
- “The talk at halftime was to cut down the turnovers, stay disciplined, and start executing plays. Something we had in the gameplan was to play strong defense, run, and repeat. Once we cut down the turnovers, because we had 18 in the first half, I thought we did a good job defending their larger players and lead scorers.”
- “We threw the Omaha coach for a loop when we switched to zone at the end, because she was probably expecting us to defend man-to-man and she would then attack us downhill. We went big, and it made a huge difference.”
Next on the Schedule
- CSUB go back on the road yet again but will stay in California for the entire three game trip.
- At Pepperdine
- Wednesday, Dec. 7
- Malibu, CA
- CSUB Season Tickets and Single-Game Tickets available at GoRunners.com/Tickets
First Half
- Bakersfield opened the game with a fast start, leading Omaha 7-0 and then 11-6.
- The Mavericks responded to lead 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.
- Omaha used a 9-0 run to go ahead 17-11 early in the second period. Bakersfield tied the score briefly at 17-17, but the Mavericks closed the half on a 15-5 sprint.
- CSUB shot a better field goal percentage than its visitors (47.4 vs. 35.5), but the `Runners committed 18 first-half turnovers.
Second Half
- Bakersfield rallied with a 17-2 run to take a 39-32 lead early in the third quarter.
- Omaha fought back to tie the score, 48-48, with about two and a half minutes left in regulation.
- The Mavericks went ahead 56-55 with about 1:20 left on the block, but the `Runners would not give in, fighting back point-by-point.
- CSUB tied the game 59-59 with a half minute remaining, and the `Runners defended until the final buzzer to force overtime.
Overtime
- The drama did not stop at the end of regulation. In a back-and-forth period, the Mavericks and `Runners traded blows down to the final few seconds.
- With just under a minute remaining Omaha pulled ahead but left too much time for Sophia Tougas to play hero, sinking a three pointer with nine seconds remaining before CSUB defended the clock to the last second.
- CSUB defended home court with a nail-biting win, 69-68!
