BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — The Cal State Bakersfield women’s basketball team defied statistical expectations and used a dominant performance from beyond the arc to secure an 85-72 victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday night at a sparsely attended Icardo Center.

The Roadrunners, who entered the game as significant underdogs according to advanced metrics, improved to 5-7 on the season by shooting a blistering 60% from three-point range. Eastern Washington fell to an even 6-6.

The most critical phase of the game arrived in the fourth quarter after Eastern Washington had whittled a 16-point third-quarter deficit down to just five points. With 6:09 remaining and the Eagles trailing 63-58, Cal State Bakersfield called a full timeout to stem the tide. The stoppage proved decisive. Out of the break, the Roadrunners executed a 10-2 run over the next two minutes, a surge powered by their perimeter shooting and composure at the free-throw line.

Morgan Hawkins, who finished with 16 points, ignited the run with a driving layup. After a pair of Eastern Washington free throws, Maria Dias of Lisbon, Portugal, delivered the knockout blows. The guard sank consecutive three-pointers on assists from Chrishawn Coleman and Hawkins, pushing the lead to 71-60 with 5:04 to play. Dias scored all eight of her points in the final quarter, and her back-to-back triples effectively extinguished Eastern Washington’s comeback hopes, extending the Roadrunner lead back to double digits where it would remain.

The game was ultimately defined by shooting efficiency. Cal State Bakersfield made 9 of 15 three-point attempts and shot 45% from the field overall. Eastern Washington, by contrast, struggled from deep, connecting on just 7 of 25 attempts, a 28% clip. The Eagles also left points at the free-throw line, making 21 of 32 attempts.

Eastern Washington was led by the high-scoring duo of Kourtney Grossman and Ella Gallatin. Grossman, a 6-foot sophomore from Billings, Montana, played 38 minutes and scored a game-high 21 points while adding three steals. Gallatin, a 5-10 guard from Snohomish, Washington, contributed 18 points. Elyn Bowers added 13 points and three assists for the Eagles.

Cal State Bakersfield’s attack was more balanced and efficient. Marley Langi, a 6-foot forward from Redwood City, California, led the Roadrunners with 19 points. Tena Ikidi, a 6-3 post player from Bayelsa State, Nigeria, was a force inside with 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in just 21 minutes of action. Chrishawn Coleman filled the stat sheet with 15 points, three assists and two blocks, while Hawkins’s 16 points came on efficient 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

The Roadrunners set the tone early, winning the opening tip and scoring the game’s first four points via Ikidi. They led 19-15 after a back-and-forth first quarter and maintained a 34-28 advantage at halftime. A 9-2 run to open the third quarter, capped by a Hawkins three-pointer, gave Cal State Bakersfield its largest lead to that point at 43-30. Eastern Washington’s 30-point fourth quarter, led by Grossman and Gallatin, made the score respectable but could not overcome the Roadrunners’ consistent offensive execution and timely responses.

Both teams finished with identical totals in points in the paint (22), points off turnovers (7), assists (6), steals (6), and blocks (5). The difference was starkly evident on the scoreboard and the shooting ledger.

Eastern Washington looks to return to .500 when it hosts Bushnell on Dec. 29. Cal State Bakersfield opens Big West Conference play on the road at UC Irvine on Jan. 1.