Assistant Sports Editor
The CSU Bakersfield women’s basketball team took care of Stanislaus State 58-35 to close their preseason, inside the Icardo Center on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
CSUB held Stanislaus scoreless in the first quarter of the exhibition. The Warriors shot 0-for-8 in the first quarter.
The Roadrunners led 16-0 by the beginning of the second. Stanislaus did not score until 1:14 into the second quarter.
Senior forward Aja Williams began the scoring for CSUB in the second quarter with a 3-pointer.
That shot gave the Roadrunners a 19-0 lead. With 4:45 minutes left in the second period, CSUB led 23-6.
In the second period, freshman forward/center, Vanessa Austin, with her only made shot, propelled CSUB ahead 32-8.
The Roadrunners led 32-9 at halftime.
In the third, Stanislaus fought back, going on 7-0 run, which helped their cause, with a 32-16 deficit less threatening. Their team rally was all but too late because CSUB’s Williams and junior forward Nandi Jorden stuffed their hopes for a comeback.
Two points from Jorden, and a layup plus foul from Williams, helped lead the Roadrunners 34-19 with 7:27 left in the third period.
At the end of the third period, CSUB led 40-23. Jorden shot 2-for-6, with 5 points.
The Roadrunners turned up the defense again on Stanislaus, limiting them to only 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Guard Jazmine Johnson, a redshirt-junior, led CSUB with 9 points in 15 minutes. Johnson also had two rebounds.
She said about her performance against Stanislaus, “I did good, but I know I could do better.” Johnson said that she was getting her jitters out from not playing for two seasons.
Johnson transferred to CSUB from Seattle University two years ago and sat out last season as a redshirt.
She said, “I definitely feel like we’re going to win the WAC [Western Athletic Conference]. Just with our post alone, I’ve never seen a group do that before [and] our guards surrounding them, I’m just excited.”
Williams, was unexpectedly cold coming off the bench, who shot 3-for-12, with eight points.
“[I need to] have more confidence in my shot. I was thinking about it too much.”
She said about the team chemistry, “I feel like our connection is way better. Everybody wants to win, and we’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”
Junior forward, Malaysia McHenry had four steals on the night. Johnson, junior forward, Jerice Fears and sophomore guards Kate Tokuhara and Dalis Jones each had one steal, as well. McHenry also scored eight points and had four rebounds.
The Roadrunners committed 12 turnovers.
Head Coach Greg McCall said, “Offensively, defensively, we’ll continue to get better.” He added, “We’re definitely ready for the season, because it’s here.”
McCall was not happy with the turnovers, yet he said he was very happy with the win. In comparison, Stanislaus had 7 turnovers.
CSUB women’s basketball opens its 2017 season in non-conference games, Tuesday, Nov. 11 on the road at UTEP at 1 p.m., followed by their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 14 versus Fresno Pacific University at 7 p.m. in the Icardo Center.
Photos by Simer Khurana/ The Runner
