WBB: Lancers finish the gauntlet undefeated
CBU went to the break with six straight losses, but with the start of conference play have found their groove and won three straight to start by an average of just under 22 points per game...
RIVERSIDE, CA— It’s been a cold and rainy start to 2026 in Southern California.
However, inside the Fowler Events Center, CBU’s women’s basketball team started WAC play as warm as ever…sweeping their opening three game conference homestand after an 80-68 victory over Tarleton State. This, after coming into the Christmas Break on a six game losing streak.
Lauren Olsen led the way with 20 points on a perfect 4-4 from 3-point range. It’s her sixth game of 20 or more points this season and third straight.
Filipa Barros added another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, missing a triple-double by a handful of assists. Shawnee Nordstrom added 12 points while Khloe Lemon added 11 off the bench. CBU (9-7, 3-0 WAC) hit 15 3-pointers for a second time in three games and shot 37 of 88 from behind the arc (42.1%) for the week.
“We committed over the break to getting better defensively and being more connected on the offensive end,” CBU coach Jarrod Olson said. “I’m not surprised to see the home teams having the kind of success they are this week. It’s going to be more grit and toughness at some point, it’s just a matter of when.”
Tarleton State had one lead, 5-4 with 6:50 left in the first quarter after a Jakoriah Long 3-pointer. CBU closed on a 19-7 run, capped off by a pair of deep Lemon 3-pointers over the last 100 seconds, to grab a lead they’d never relinquish.
“We needed that break and you’ve seen this week that when we share the ball and defend at a high level we can be as dangerous as anyone,” Lemon said. “It’s been a tough adjustment to come off the bench, but I’ll take advantage of whatever minutes I get and do my best to help our team win.”
“Khloe’s been really selfless over these last three or four weeks and done whatever I’ve asked her to do in terms of starting or coming off the bench and I couldn’t be prouder of her for that,” Olson added. “It’s really set the tone for our team.”
The Lancers started second quarter play on an 11-4 run covering 2:58, capped by an Emma Johansson 3-pointer. Behind 15 straight second quarter points from Olsen, CBU pushed the lead to 25 at 49-24 after 20 minutes.
“It’s been nice to come into a program that believes in me and has given me the opportunity to flourish,” Olsen added. “The break definitely helped but we really trusted each other and made sure our belief in this team never wavered throughout the ups and downs. Coming to Southern California has definitely been different but I’ve really enjoyed it and can really make some folks back home jealous in terms of the weather.”
Tarleton State (7-7, 1-2 WAC) was held to 31% over the opening 20 minutes while CBU shot 18-29 (62%) and 9-17 from beyond the arc (52.9%).
The Texans shot better after the break at 17 for 35 (48.6%), cutting the final margin of victory to a dozen. Gia Adams had 21 points to lead the way while Jakoriah Long added 19 and Elodie Lutbert added 10.
“We’re down 25 at the half and I’m never happy with a loss, but I’m more satisfied with our effort today than I was Thursday at Utah Valley,” Texans coach Bill Brock said on his postgame radio interview with Clayton Neville.
Next week CBU hits the road for a pair as they visit Utah Tech on Thursday and Southern Utah on Saturday in what could be a battle for first place. Tarleton State returns to Texas but makes the short trip to ACU on Thursday before taking their first bye Saturday.