BELMONT, Calif. – For the first time in program history, the Concordia University Irvine women's basketball team has won eight straight PacWest Conference games.
The first-place Golden Eagles swept the season series with Academy of Art on Thursday by winning on the road by a count of 59-48.
Concordia improved to 13-4 overall and a whopping 10-1 in conference play. The Golden Eagles are tied with Azusa Pacific atop the league standings with the Dominican Penguins nipping on their heels.
Guard
Jasmine Rachal led the visitors with 14 points.
Erika Maggard tied her career-high with 10 points while also chipping in with six rebounds and three assists.
Freshman point guard
Kayla Cabaccang also notched a career-high in the scoring column by breaking into double digits with 10 points against the Urban Knights. The Woodland Hills, Calif. native added three rebounds and two assists and also sank two three-pointers in a game for the first time in her young collegiate career.
"The key was players finding pockets of success in what they do well," said CUI head coach
Christine Collins-Kiernan. "We have had people step into big moments and bring us along all year and today was no different. We got a huge lift off the bench from Kayla and Erika and I truly believe the strength in this group is their ability to be ready when their opportunity arises. We have had to be resilient in our adversity and consistently buy time for key players to return to us. We have fought to stay present and bear down in pressure situations."
The game was played at the Water Gleason Gym – the old home of the Notre Dame de Namur Argonauts who used to compete in the PacWest Conference.
CUI visits third-place Dominican on Saturday in an important game for both squads. Along with APU, that trio is vying for the two first-round byes in the upcoming PacWest Conference Championships.
The top two seeds avoid playing an extra game when the first six teams in the PacWest standings advance to the postseason.
Concordia entered this week No. 8 in the important NCAA DII West Regional rankings for the second straight poll. Eight teams make the NCAA DII West Regional Tournament - including the three conference winners that earn automatic bids from the PacWest, GNAC and CCAA.
The Golden Eagles began a six-game stretch that features five road games and just one match back in Irvine. They will be back at home again on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. against Chaminade.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's basketball schedule
