Nick CamachoLOS ANGELES — The Cal Poly women’s basketball program’s first game against UCLA in nearly 32 years produced a less than desirable result on Nov. 20 as the Mustangs dropped a 107-83 decision to the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion.
Junior forward Lisa McBride led Cal Poly in scoring for the third time in four games this season, but the Mustangs, despite holding an early lead, surrendered 52 first-half points. Sophomore forward Rebecca Tratter and senior guard Kyla Howell recorded career-best scoring highs, notching 16 and 15 points, respectively. Junior forward Megan Harrison’s 10 points marked her ninth-consecutive double-digit scoring game, dating to last season.
Playing its first game against UCLA (3-0) since Feb. 27, 1976, Cal Poly – winless against the Bruins in five attempts – held its last lead at 18-17 on the second of two Harrison free throws with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. The Bruins, however, posted a 27-9 run during the ensuing eight minutes to earn a 42-27 lead.
UCLA, which shot 53 percent from the floor, led 52-40 at intermission and allowed Cal Poly to break its double-digit advantage just once in the second half.
Although they lost, a positive for the Mustangs was their season-best 88 percent (15-for-17) from the free throw line.
Fairfield
A poor first-half shooting performance doomed the Cal Poly women’s basketball team in the opening game of the program’s inaugural Holiday Beach Classic, as the Mustangs dropped a 60-50 decision to Fairfield on Nov. 23 in Mott Gym.
Cal Poly shot 26 percent from the floor in the opening period and that figure, coupled with an early 18-2 run by Fairfield (4-0), sent the Mustangs to a 28-16 deficit at halftime. Cal Poly, which received a team-high 10 points from senior forward Nicole Yarwasky in a reserve effort, failed to close its gap to less than double digits in the second half.
A layup from Harrison gave the hosts a 6-4 lead five minutes into the opening half. Fairfield, however, held Cal Poly to a single field goal during the ensuing 14 minutes to earn a 22-8 advantage. Freshman forward Kristina Santiago’s layup moments later helped Cal Poly whittle its deficit to 24-15 shortly before halftime, but the Mustangs drew no closer until the final buzzer.
Cal Poly senior guard Toni Newman snared a team-high eight rebounds and, along with McBride and Harrison, notched seven points. Harrison’s output marked the first time she hadn’t reached double-digit scoring figures since Feb. 27 – a span of nine contests, dating to last season.
The Mustangs shot 76 percent (22-for-29) from the free throw line, their second-best effort of the season.
Wright State
Led by Harrison’s team-high 17 points, four separate Mustangs reached double-digit scoring figures on Nov. 24 as the Mustangs completed play at the Holiday Beach Classic tournament with an 80-76 victory against Wright State at Mott Gym.
Senior guard Sparkle Anderson scored 12 points while junior McBride added 10 for Cal Poly (3-3), which reversed a 12-point deficit late in the first half. Cal Poly sophomore guard Tamara Wells matched a career high with 10 points, while freshman forward Kristina Santiago’s four blocks were the program’s highest single-game amount since former Mustang Sarah Grieve recorded five Feb. 11, 2006 at UC Davis – a span of 41 games.
A Santiago layup eight minutes into action Saturday tied the game, 11-11, before the Raiders posted a 21-9 run during the ensuing seven minutes to earn a 32-20 advantage. Cal Poly, however, answered by holding Wright State to one basket during the next four minutes to take a brief 35-34 lead via the first of sophomore Brittany Asplund’s pair of three-pointers.
The Mustangs trailed at intermission, 39-38, but secured the lead for certain at 51-50 behind a Wells layup. Cal Poly led by as much as 76-67 with three-and-a-half minutes to play and fended off a late Raider rally to secure the victory.
Harrison’s 17 points were her 10th double-figure scoring game in the last 11 outings, dating to last season.
The Mustangs return to the hardwood Thurs., Nov. 29 against San Diego State at 7 p.m. in Mott Gym.
Vance drops 14 in reserve role
CEDAR CITY, UT – Senior forward Dreshawn Vance came off the bench to score 14 points in leading the Cal Poly men’s basketball team to a 73-66 win over Southern Utah on Nov. 20 at the Centrum Arena in Cedar City, UT.
With the win, Cal Poly improves to 3-2 while SUU falls to 1-3.
Vance’s came off the bench to hit all five of his shots from the floor and all four attempts from the line. Vance added a team-high eight rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
Junior forward Titus Shelton was the team’s top scorer with 15 points. Shelton hit six of seven shots from the floor while grabbing four rebounds with two blocks.
The Mustangs held a 33-29 lead at the half after being whistled for 16 fouls compared to just nine for SUU. Vance led the Mustangs at the half with eight points and five rebounds. The Thunderbirds missed on all seven attempts from long range.
Cal Poly opened the final period on a 12-6 run and held a double-figure lead most of the second half until the Thunderbirds closed to within eight with 3:30 left in the game.
Junior guard Chaz Thomas added 14 for the Mustangs as he hit five of nine shots from the floor. Sophomore reserve guard Lorenzo Keeler had seven points and senior forward Matt Hanson contributed six points and grabbed five rebounds.
Geoff Payne led all scorers with 29 points for Southern Utah while adding 12 rebounds.
Cal Poly shot 50 percent from the floor, but hit on only 26 percent from long range. Poly forced five more turnovers than Southern Utah, 20-15, but was out rebounded 36-33.
The Mustangs return to action tonight when the team travels to Arizona State for a 6 p.m. (Pacific time) game.