Complete Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Ca. (Dec. 21) – Brittney Kroon posted her first career triple-double, but Seattle Pacific could not rebound from a cold start to the second half and came up short 77-70 to host Cal State Bakersfield in the final game of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge at the Icardo Center.

The Falcons (6-3), ranked No. 10 in NCAA II, lost for the third time in the past five games. The last time SPU lost three games in the regular season was when Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) was being courted as a high school senior during the 2001-02 season. Unranked Bakersfield (7-1) will likely earn its deserved national exposure after knocking off a top 10 team for the second time in as many nights.

Kroon tallied 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in the loss. Although she has recorded double figures in all three categories on several occasions, along with leading the nation in blocked shots two years ago and owning every conference record for blocks, this marked the first game in which Kroon put it together in all three at once.

The teams were even at 35 points apiece at halftime, but the Roadrunners came out on fire to start the second half. Bakersfield outscored SPU 19-4 to open the second frame and pulled ahead by 15 points with 13 minutes left in the game.

The Roadrunners remained on top by 14 with seven minutes left in the game, but the Falcons charged back. Kroon scored back-to-back baskets at the tail end of a 13-3 SPU run that pulled the Falcons to within four, 66-61, with three minutes left.

The Falcons could get no closer, however, as the Roadrunners had an answer for every SPU basket down the stretch and held on for a seven-point win.

Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) led the Falcons with 15 points in the loss. Carli Grant (Sr., 5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) added 12 points and nine rebounds. Rachel Strand (Jr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) chipped in nine points and nine rebounds, and Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) had nine points and seven rebounds.

Katie McElree led five Roadrunners in double figures with 15 points. Jessie Loring added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Seattle Pacific outshot Bakersfield for the game and had a 49-39 advantage in rebounding, but turnovers proved costly. The Roadrunners scored 22 points off 22 SPU turnovers, while the Falcons produced just six points off 11 CSUB mishaps.

The Falcons open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next Thursday (Dec. 29) at Central Washington at 5:30 p.m.

CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD 77, SEATTLE PACIFIC 70
SEATTLE PACIFIC (6-3) Wood,Mandy 6-14 2-4 15; Grant,Carli 4-5 4-4 12; Kroon,Brittney 5-11 0-0 10; Strand,Rachel 3-8 2-2 9; Poe,Jenny 2-9 5-6 9; Fielding,Autumn 2-8 2-2 7; Christensen,Beth 1-3 2-2 4; Hill,Kelsey 1-2 0-0 2; Hollands,Jackie 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-62 17-20 70.
CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD (7-1) McELREE, Katie 5-12 5-9 15; LORING, Jessie 6-13 2-4 14; TARVER, Kelley 4-12 3-4 11; ARASE, Krista 2-6 5-6 10; LILLICH, Gillian 4-9 0-0 10; JOHNSON, Rhonda 3-11 2-2 8; NAFF, Rhondi 3-4 0-0 6; AGIN, Cheyenne 1-2 1-2 3; SMITH, Katherine 0-1 0-0 0; WEST, Nikhol 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-71 18-27 77.

Seattle Pacific............... 35 35 - 70 
Cal State Bakersfield......... 35 42 - 77

3-point goals-Seattle Pacific 3-14 (Fielding,Autumn 1-3; Strand,Rachel 1-2; Wood,Mandy 1-7; Poe,Jenny 0-1; Hollands,Jackie 0-1), Cal State Bakersfield 3-8 (LILLICH, Gillian 2-5; ARASE, Krista 1-2; TARVER, Kelley 0-1). Fouled out--Seattle Pacific-None, Cal State Bakersfield None. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific 49 (Kroon,Brittney 10), Cal State Bakersfield 39 (LORING, Jessie 8). Assists-Seattle Pacific 15 (Christensen,Beth 6), Cal State Bakersfield 17 (ARASE, Krista 8). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific 19, Cal State Bakersfield 17.