With two consecutive losses and a 4-7 record, the Cal Poly women’s basketball team did its best to get back on track in conference play. And after the Mustangs rolled past Long Beach State (2-13, 0-2 Big West) 83-72, it may be safe to say the team has.
The Mustangs struggled early, however, as they started with a 12-0 deficit.
Guard Caroline Reeves put the Mustangs on the board first with a layup as the Cal Poly fought back the best it could to reach 20-10 with 10:52 remaining in the first half.
From there, Cal Poly chipped away at Long Beach’s lead and tied the game with 29 seconds remaining in the half at 43-43. The 49ers would tack on three more points to take a 46-43 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, guard Desiray Johnston hit two free throws to put the Mustangs up for the first time in the game, 53-51, and the team never looked back.
Cal Poly went up by seven points with 13:53 left in the game, and then Reeves hit a jumper at the 11:40 mark to give the Mustangs a 65-55 lead.
Cal Poly extended the lead to as much as 15 points, after guard Rachel Clancy scored a layup with 59 seconds left in the victory.
Guard Ashlee Burns led the Mustangs with 17 points. She was one of five players who scored more than 10 points. Reeves scored 15 points, guard Kayla Griffin scored 14 points and Clancy and Abby Bloetscher both scored 12.
The win gives the Mustangs some momentum after tallying a losing record in nonconference play. And if Cal Poly wants to make any run at the top of the conference, the team is now in a position to do so.
The Mustangs nearly took the Big West last year, but after two consecutive losses to Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara, the Mustangs dropped to the second seed in the conference.
From there, the Mustangs couldn’t climb back to the top, and the team fell to UC Riverside in the semifinal round of the Big West Tournament.
The Mustangs return to action Thursday when they host Pacific in Mott Gym at 7 p.m.