Day one is the books for the 2011 GSAC Classic with the Golden State Athletic Conference teams winning both games. In the early game San Diego Christian (11-2) defeated Cal State Maritime (6-8) by a score of 84-69. Then No. 5 Westmont (11-1) cruised to an 85-45 victory over Pacific Union (4-4).
Tomorrow, Westmont and San Diego Christian will switch partners. San Diego Christian will face Pacific Union at one o’clock with Westmont and Cal State Maritime taking to the hardwood at 5:30.
With Westmont up 13-11 and 11:19 remaining in first-half play, the Warriors produced a 19-0 run over the next five minutes and 45 seconds to take a 32-11 advantage. The game was never close again.
Junior forward Tugce Canitez led the way for the Warriors, recording her eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The native of Izmir, Turkey also tallied four assists. Senior forward Lisa Peterson added another 12 points. Larissa Hensley, Jillian Wilbur and Tawny McCain each put up nine points with McCain adding nine rebounds.
The Pioneers were led by Lara Chanders with 18 points. JoAnn Mauries added 11 points.
Westmont shot 50.1 percent from the floor (33-65) while holding the Pioneers to 38.6 percent (17 of 44). The Warriors doubled-up the Pioneers on rebounds 44-22 pulling down 17 from the offensive glass.
With the victory, the Warriors extend their winning streak to six games.
The early game was much more closely contested. San Diego Christian jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and extended their advantage to 16-6 with 13:37 remaining in the first half. However Cal State Maritime put together a 27-2 run over the next four minutes to go up 23-18 with 9:25 remaining on the first-half clock.
The Keelhaulers extended their lead to 32-24 before the Hawks put together a 14-2 run to go up by six (40-34) with just under a minute until intermission. However, back-to-back three-pointers by Maritime’s Marisa Carion sent the two teams into the locker room tied at 40.
In the second half, the Hawks instituted a full court press that proved to be decisive. Tied at 49-all, San Diego Christian began forcing turnovers and over the next five and one-half minutes outscored Cal State Maritime 23-2, taking a 72-51 lead with 6:18 left to play. The margin proved too large for the Keelhaulers to overcome.
The Hawks had six players score in double figures including Juanita Lewis, who scored 16 and pulled down six boards coming off the bench, and Brittany Robison who tallied 16 points and seven rebounds. Brittany Daniel contributed a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures were Hannah Miller (12 points), Heather Serven (11 Points) and Jermani Steward (10 points).
The Keelhaulers were led by Alexsis Brown who scored 25 points and collected nine rebounds. Carion drained four three-pointers to put up 12 points. Kelly Stephens added another (10 points).
