STOCKTON — Putting his team in early-season tests to challenge them, head coach Wayman Strickland got some postitive results from his 2014 Cal State Stanislaus squad in an early matinee game at the University of the Pacific. He also knows there are a lot of work to do, especially on defense.

After hanging with the Tigers inside the Alex G. Spanos Center in the first half, the Warriors eventually fell to the Division I foe, 98-67, in an exhibition contest.

The game against the Division I team is the first of two in a week for Stanislaus as the Warriors will also see Fresno State on Wednesday — in an even-bigger arena at the SaveMart Center. Later this season, the Warriors will play Nevada in Reno for a game that counts in the win-loss columns.

The challenge against tougher teams in preseason play is designed to get the team ready for the rigorous CCAA, as well as seeing what the team can do to better its 13-13 season from a year ago.

"We are not trying to be a so-so program. We want to be great and you have to sharpen iron with iron and play these games," Strickland said. "This is a also a great experience for our kids (to play in a large arena against a Division I team).

Cassidy Sanders-Curry led the Warriors with 21 points and Camille Roberts hit three three-pointers in the first half off the bench to finish with 13 points. Roberts also had a team-best six rebounds. Jasmine Washington chipped in nine points. Sanders-Curry made her first seven shots before finishing 7-for-9 from the floor with three three-pointers.

"Cassidy definitely was the highlight for us today, she had an all-around good game," Strickland added.

Pacific, which led by just nine points at the half, went off on a 20-10 run to start the second half to pull away by out-running the Warriors. The Tigers also out-gun the Warriors by hitting 3-pointers on their side of the court with nine in the second half. Erin Butler, who was 5-for-7 from the arch, led the Tigers with 20 points. Three other Tigers also ended up double-digits in scoring.

The Warriors held the Tigers as they shot just 35.9 percent and made only three three-pointers in the opening half. Stanislaus led briefly on a Roberts three-pointer at 7-6. While UOP took off to a lead as large as 12 points, the Warriors got within five with 35 seconds left. The game could have been closer at intermission but a couple of miscues for the Warriors in the final possessions in the first half resulted in the 9-point difference.

"It was a great first step for us. It's a part of the team's progress and journey as we prepare for this season," Strickland said. "We are still one of the youngest teams in the conference and this was a learning process. We have to learn how to sustain our pace and defend with intensity and play the entire 40 minutes."