Box Score
LA JOLLA -- Cal State San Bernardino's women's basketball team came out on the short end of a 77-53 beatdown at the hands of Biola University Saturday night on the second and final day of the UC San Diego Tritons Invitational.
The loss dropped the Coyotes to 4-2 on the season. CSUSB will host Saint Martin's University at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Coussoulis Arena before taking a break for the holidays. In the late game, host UC San Diego, ranked No. 14 in the nation, routed Alaska-Fairbanks 87-41.
Leading scorer Krystal Urzua and senior point guard Ashlee Ford were the only players who had an impact in the contest for CSUSB. Urzua hit seven three-pointers and finished with a game-high 22 points while Ford came off the bench ahd finished with nine points and a game-high seven assists in 25 minutes of play.
The Eagles dominated the game from start to finish, taking a 37-17 halftime lead while shooting 57 percent from the field (15 of 26) and finished with 29 field goals in 56 shots (52 percent), outrebounding the Coyotes by an astounding margin of 54 to 21.
Coyotes junior Kymberly Ooten, who had 27 points and nine rebounds in Friday's win over Alaska-Fairbanks, came up empty Saturday night with no points on seven shots in 23 minutes and no rebounds. The 5-10 Ooten and 6-1 junior forward Amanda Ragains were a combined one for 15 from the field.
Although it wasn't as noticeable on Friday night, it appeared the Coyotes missed the presence of junior Tiara Richardson on the low block. The 6-1 junior came into the weekend averaging 5.8 points and 10.3 rebounds a game in the team's first four games but did not play either night.
Adding to CSUSB's woes is that the team shot just 30 percent from the field (19 of 63) and were a woeful six of 33 in the first half (18 percent). However, the team did hit 11 of 26 shots from three-point range (42 percent).
Biola was deadly at the foul line, sinking 15 of 16 free throws (94 percent) while the Coyotes made just four of nine charity tosses (44 percent).
Former Arrowhead Christian Academy star Jessilyn Connicelli had a big hand in Biola's dominance inside with 15 points and 14 rebounds, 11 of them on the defensive glass. Christina Barclay had 16 points and 12 rebounds along with three blocked shots and five assists. Jennifer French and Charrise Reece combined for 21 points. Reece also chipped in five assists.
Connicelli and Barclay were a combined 12 of 21 from the field and 7-for-7 from the foul line.
Biola raced to a 9-0 lead in the first 3:11 of the game and were up 22-9 with 8:15 remaining in the first half and the Coyotes never threatened.
The Eagles outscored CSUSB 16-0 in the paint in the first half and their bench outscored the Coyotes 13-2 in the first 20 minutes. For the game, Biola outscored the Coyotes 35-6 in the paint and 25-7 on second-chance opportunities.
