Lauren RabainoWomen’s basketball
Cal Poly 74,
Pacific 64
Senior forward Megan Harrison became the second-leading scorer in Cal Poly history when she scored 19 points in helping the Mustangs down Pacific in Stockton on Saturday night.
Harrison passed Christine Rodness (1991-95) as Cal Poly’s second-leading scorer on a free throw with just more than five minutes remaining. With 1,342 career points, she now trails only Laura Buehning (1,843 points, 1979-83).
The Mustangs (17-8, 9-4 Big West Conference) have already guaranteed themselves a winning record, the program’s first in 17 years, and with the win on Saturday, guaranteed the programs highest win total in 27 years.
Cal Poly, which led by 11 at halftime, blew the game open early in the second half leading by as many as 19 points. A run by Pacific cut the lead to six with just over five minutes remaining, but the Mustangs closed the game out at the free throw line.
Senior guard Lisa McBride also had 19 points for Cal Poly. Harrison narrowly missed another double-double, grabbing nine rebounds.
Pacific’s Janae Young led all players with 28 points and 16 rebounds.
The Mustangs return home at 7 p.m. Thursday to host conference rival Cal State Northridge in Mott Gym.
Men’s basketball
Cal Poly 66,
South Dakota State 62
Sophomore guard Shawn Lewis continued his recent strong play leading Cal Poly with a game-high 21 points en route to a win in the ESPNU BracketBuster game in Mott Gym on Saturday.
The Mustangs (7-17) roared out of the gates, taking an early 21-3 advantage before a late first half run would allow the Jackrabbits (12-17) to within seven at the break.
South Dakota State would continue to build the momentum culminating in a five-point advantage with just over seven minutes to play.
Cal Poly would counter and take the lead for good on a putback by sophomore forward Wes Dipprey with four minutes remaining.
Senior guard Chaz Thomas (18 points) and senior forward Titus Shelton (10 points) were also in double-figures for Cal Poly.
Forward Kai Williams led South Dakota State with 19 points and six rebounds while guard Dale Moss added 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Mustangs play their final non-conference matchup of the regular season when they host Cal State Bakersfield at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Mott Gym.
Women’s tennis
No. 60 UC Irvine 4,
No. 71 Cal Poly 3
Despite securing the doubles point with wins by juniors Brittany Blalock and Steffi Wong and the tandem of junior Suzie Matzenauer and sophomore Amy Markhoff, Cal Poly fell to UC Irvine on Saturday.
The Mustangs (4-2, 2-1 Big West Conference) would win just two singles matches as Blalock defeated Brooke Bartlett 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles and Whitney Peterson beat Claire Fermin 6-4, 6-3.
UC Irvine’s Stephaine Hammel defeated Matzenauer in a tight match at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Cal Poly will return to the courts at 10 a.m. Saturday when they travel to face UC Riverside.
Softball
GAME 1: Cal Poly 3, Kansas 1
GAME 2: UNLV 8, Cal Poly 5
Sophomore lefthander Anna Cahn struck out a career-high 10 Jayhawks and allowed just three hits in the victory over Kansas (6-9) on Sunday at the Oregon State-hosted Cathedral City Classic.
Cal Poly senior second baseman Stephanie Tam led the way offensively with three hits against Kansas.
Junior catcher Sara Kryza came up big for the Mustangs, driving in the game winning run in the sixth with a pinch-hit single.
In the late game with the Rebels (7-7), Cal Poly came out flat, trailing 8-0 after just two innings.
The Mustangs would chip away with two runs in the third and fourth innings, and a single run in the sixth but could never get within three runs.
Tam continued her stellar day with another three hit performance, giving her a total of six hits in the two games.
The Mustangs will return to action at the Cal State Fullerton-hosted DeMarini Invitational, Feb. 27-March 1 at Anderson Family Field.