In a span of two games, the Mustangs have gone from Big West front-runner to third place.
Cal Poly (17-10, 10-5 Big West), led by junior forward Kristina Santiago’s team-high 20 points, recorded their second consecutive loss of the season with a 85-70 loss against UC Santa Barbara (11-16, 8-7) Saturday afternoon.
Along with Santiago, seniors Ashlee Stewart and Brittany Lange added double figures. Stewart tallied 11 points and Lange finished with 10.
Cal Poly was held to a 36 percent field goal percentage. Dropping two games in a row for the first time this year.
With the defeat, Cal Poly slipped a half-game behind second-place UC Riverside (14-14, 11-4) in the Big West standings, and after UC Riverside’s win at conference-leading UC Davis (18-9, 10-4), the Mustangs fell to third.
The Gauchos then held Cal Poly to just two field goals during the final eight minutes of the first half and took a 42-26 lead into the half.
Despite outscoring the Gauchos during the second half, Cal Poly failed to close within 12 points of the Gaucho lead during the final 20 minutes.
The lost ground in the standings could cost the Mustangs an extra bye-week in the Big West tournament. First and second place finishers earn two, while third and fourth place claim one.
The Mustangs complete the 2009-10 regular season against UC Irvine on Saturday.