Postseason WNIT | 3/20/2019 11:54:27 PM

MOREHEAD STATE 71, OHIO STATE 61
 
COLUMBUS, OH – Aliyah Jeune scored 20 points and hit six 3-pointers as Morehead State moved past Ohio State in the opening game of the 2019 Postseason WNIT.
 
Jeune, a redshirt junior who transferred from Rutgers, also had nine rebounds as the Eagles advanced out of Round 1 in just their fifth postseason appearance in program history. They will face either Miami (OH) or Western Kentucky in Round 2.
 
Morehead State (24-10) started off cold, going just 5-for-21 from the field, but the Eagles’ first 3-pointer from Mckenzie Calvert pulled MSU within 19-18, and they took the lead, 20-19 on a layup from Tierra McGowan with 6:30 left in the first half. Ohio State (14-15) countered with a couple scoring runs, taking a 31-25 lead into the halftime break.
 
An 8-0 run by the Eagles pushed them ahead, 45-41, with 1:45 left in the third quarter. The Buckeyes threatened at times to retake the lead, but a key 3-pointer from Crystal Simmons-Cozar (her only points of the game) gave MSU a 57-49 lead with 6:33 remaining, and Jeune added another important long-range shot at 2:09 to make it 66-58.
 
Darianne Seward had 17 points, five rebound and five assists for Morehead State; Calvert added 15 points and Miranda Crockett closed with 10 points.
 
Ohio State, the 2001 Postseason WNIT champion, got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Dorka Juhasz and 13 points and six assists from Janai Crooms. Adreana Miller added 11 points.
 
PEPPERDINE 91, CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 79
 
RIVERSIDE, CA – Yasmine Robinson-Bacote worked her way to a game-high 31 points to go with 15 rebounds, and Pepperdine topped California Baptist in Round 1 of the 2019 Postseason WNIT.
 
Pepperdine (21-11) was 0-9 all-time in the WNIT before Wednesday’s game; this marks the first time the Waves have had a winning record since 2012. The Waves will face Saint Mary’s or Hawaii in Round 2.
 
Megan House hit a layup for the Waves with 4:29 to go to build the team’s lead to 76-67, and a 3-pointer from Robinson-Bacote took the lead out to 10 points, 79-69. California Baptist had one more threat in it and got it to six, but Pepperdine’s Malia Bambrick stole the ball right after her team had coughed it up; the ensuing layup made it 81-73 with 1:53 left.
 
Barbara Sitanggan added 14 points and seven assists for the Waves; Skye Lindsay and Deezha Battle each had 10 points. The Waves scored 91 points on just three made 3-pointers and had a 52-31 edge in rebounding. 
 
California Baptist (18-12) was 12-2 in its last 14 games; this is the first year the Lancers have played at Division I after many seasons as a D-II powerhouse. Britney Thomas had 21 points; Caitlyn Harper closed with 17 points and six rebounds and Ane Olaeta had 16 points.
 
PACIFIC 77, FRESNO STATE 72
 
FRESNO, CA – Valerie Higgins guided Pacific past Fresno State in Round 1 of the Postseason WNIT, scoring 20 points and adding nine rebounds as the Tigers were the third of three road teams to win on opening night of the tournament.
 
Pacific (19-12) will play either Arizona or Idaho State in Round 2.
 
Candice White helped Fresno State (19-13) grab a small lead, with two free throws and a jumper putting the Bulldogs up, 69-63, with 5:31 to go. Lianna Tillman hit a 3-pointer and added a layup for Pacific to put the Tigers up 70-69 at the 2:56 mark, only to see Genna Ogier hit a layup to put Fresno State back up, 71-70 with 2:18 to go.
 
Higgins hit two free throws to put Pacific in front, 72-71, at the 1:20 mark. Ameela Li drained two free throws to send Pacific ahead, 74-71, with 29 seconds left; Jessica Blakeslee got a rebound for the Tigers and hit a free throw, making the score 75-71.
 
Brooklyn McDavid had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Pacific, while Li added 12 points. The Tigers were helped by 19 offensive rebounds.
 
White ended her career with 29 points, five assists and five rebounds for Fresno State, which had 19 turnovers on the night. Maddi Utti had 15 points and eight rebounds.