STOCKTON, Calif.—Pacific women's basketball (2-0) earned its second victory of the season as it defeated Cal State Bakersfield (0-2), 67-54, on Sunday. The Tigers start the season, 2-0, for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
 
Pacific was down 16-14 at the end of the first quarter. After the Roadrunners scored the first basket of the game, graduate student Cecilia Holmberg tallied the Tigers' first seven points. Pacific was in front by two as a result, 7-5. Cal State Bakersfield came back to tie the game twice. The Roadrunners went on a 7-1 run to take back the lead with under three minutes left, 16-10. The Tigers cut the game within two on a second-chance layup from junior Elizabeth Elliott and free throws from senior Liz Smith.
 
Pacific went on a 12-0 run at the start of the second quarter to return to the top, 20-16. Cal State Bakersfield cut the score to one four times during the next three minutes. Elliott and Holmberg combined for nine quick points that helped the Tigers maintain their 31-25 advantage going into halftime. Pacific outscored Cal State Bakersfield, 17-9, during the quarter. The Tigers also held the Roadrunners to just 21.4% (3-14) from the field.
 
Pacific kept the momentum going at the start of the second half. The Tigers outscored the Roadrunners again, but this time at 21-13. Smith was on fire, scoring 12 of her 21 points on 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. The Tigers ended the third quarter with a 14-point lead that put them in front for good, 52-38.
 
"I thought fatigue played a role there in the first half and we kind of found it in the second quarter and third quarter," said head coach Bradley Davis. "We've had teams where we've struggled with that, and I thought this team today did a good job of standing out on defense. Overall, we stayed pretty dialed in."
 
In addition to being the leading scorer for the second time this season, Smith also matched her career-high with seven assists. Holmberg finished with 15 points which was one point shy of matching her career-high 16. The Bjarred, Sweden native also grabbed a season-high seven rebounds. Elliott matched her season-high 11 points and notched a season-high six rebounds. 
 
As a team, Pacific outscored Cal State Bakersfield, 30-22, in the paint and posted 16 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.
 
Up next, the Tigers travel to Washington for its first road game of the season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday. 
 
"We love challenges, and these are the types of games that we want to play," said Holmberg. "So, we're super excited to get up there and to take on this really good team and to show how good we are."