Kali BillsIn its closest game of the season, the Cal Poly women’s basketball team took down Cal State Fullerton 55-54 at Mott Gym, remaining undefeated in the Big West Conference.
The win marks only the second time the Mustangs have started 3-0 in the conference, with the last time being the 2005-06 season.
The Mustangs’ charge was led by junior forward Lisa McBride, whose 10 points and career-high 14 rebounds added up to her first collegiate double-double, an accomplishment she had previously missed by only one rebound three times this season.
On the way to her milestone, she made 5 of her 10 shots, dished out two assists and made one steal.
Prior to the game, Titans head coach Maryalyce Jeremiah told the Mustang Daily her plan was to slow the game down to take Cal Poly out of its element, which, as it turned out, was easier said than done.
Every time Cal State Fullerton (2-11, 1-1 Big West Conference) looked like it could effectively slow the pace of the Mustangs (6-9, 3-0 BWC) down, they broke loose.
Toni Thomas, the conference’s leading scorer, made 5 of 10 shots from the floor for 20 points.
She also pulled down seven rebounds in the losing effort.
No one else could net double figures, though, for the Titans, who were outrebounded 48-39.
A stout defensive effort by the Mustangs held them to just 31-percent shooting from the floor overall, and 25 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Lauren Chow, who came into the contest as the fourth-leading scorer in the conference with 14 points a game, was nullified, held to just six points on 1-of-9 shooting.
On the night, Cal Poly survived just a 33.9-percent shooting performance overall.
The Mustangs will shoot for their fourth victory in a row at 4 p.m. Saturday when they host UC Irvine.