Mustang News Staff Report
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The Cal Poly women’s basketball team opened its season with a loss on the road to reigning Mountain West champions Fresno State on Sunday, falling to the Bulldogs 67-56.
The Mustangs struggled early and were down by 10 at the end of the first half. They hung tough in the second half, though, cutting the lead to six points late in the game. The Bulldogs responded well to the late surge, holding on for an 11-point victory.
Sunday’s game debuted two new stars for the Mustangs. Twin freshman guards Lynn and Dynn Leaupepe shined on the big stage in their first contest. Lynn went 4-of-9 from the field, finishing with nine points, while Dynn went 6-of-17 with a team-high 15 points. The emergence of two new scorers is a positive for the Mustangs moving forward after losing two key players from last year’s squad to graduation.
Senior guard Ariana Elegado chose to return to Cal Poly for her final year of eligibility, pursuing a Master’s degree in sports management. The two-time All-Conference tournament selection struggled against the Bulldogs, shooting just 3-of-18 from the floor for 10 points.
Senior forward Taryn Garza, coming off a junior campaign that earned her the Big West’s Best Hustle Award, dominated the boards yet again, finishing with a game-high 13 rebounds.
Despite some positives coming from the game, the Mustangs’ play overall was subpar. They shot an abysmal 29 percent from the field and just 52 percent from the free-throw line. The Mustangs attempted 17 more shots than the Bulldogs but made three fewer.
The Mustangs return to the court on Nov. 21 when they travel to Loyola Marymount. Their home opener is slated for Nov. 23 against Portland at 1 p.m.