Overcoming administrative errors and a one-player bench, the Cal Poly women’s basketball team stunned rival UC Davis, 74-65, in Mott Gym on Saturday night. The Mustangs (7-7, 3-0 Big West) outpaced the Aggies (12-4, 2-2) on a 16-3 run over five minutes of the second half, turning a 35-39 deficit with 17:27 remaining into a 51-42 lead with 12:27 to go.
“It’s a completely even league,” senior guard Rachel Clancy said after the game. “It’s anybody’s game every night. We knew that and we know we were able to win, no matter how many players we had. We just stuck with our game plan.”
The Mustangs began the game in a hole, having only six players because of injuries and suspensions, along with an administrative error that gave the Aggies a 2-0 lead before the game tipped off.
A light behind the backboard did not flash during a pre-game check and the miscue gave the Aggies two technical foul shots, which were made, to open the game.
“I’ve never heard of that administrative foul,” head coach Faith Mimnaugh said. “I guess we’re going to get that light fixed. There’s nothing I could do to control it.”
Two key reasons for the Mustangs’ upset victory were career highs from Clancy with 31, and freshman center Molly Schlemer, who came off the bench to score 12 points, all in the second half.
Clancy was deadly down the stretch, hitting five 3-pointers in the second half including one with 28 seconds remaining after the Aggies rallied to within four points.
“I feel like I’m trying to be a little more proactive and trying to take some more opportunities than I would have in the past,” she said.
Clancy also made four free throws in the final 20 seconds to ice the Mustangs’ victory.
While Clancy is known to be one of the Mustangs’ offensive weapons, Schlemer was relatively under the radar until Caroline Reeves picked up her third foul with 45 seconds remaining in the first half.
Schlemer played nearly the entire second half shooting a perfect 5 for 5 from the field and grabbing five rebounds.
“I knew I had to step up and just go out there focused and do what I had to do to cover what Caroline (Reeves) did,” Schlemer said following the victory.
Mimnaugh was quick to recognize Schlemer’s performance.
“Molly just came up big for us, she just had an awesome game,” Mimnaugh said. “I think that shows the strength of our team that even when we’re limited in numbers, players can step up.”
The team shot 54.9 percent overall, their highest mark of the season, and recorded a season low with nine turnovers all while using only six players, two of whom are freshmen.
Redshirt freshman Jonae Ervin, whose decision making was characterized as outstanding by Mimnaugh, had a season high eight assists while playing all 40 minutes.
In the Mustangs’ small lineup, five of the six players are guards smaller than 5-foot-10, sophomore Kayla Griffin’s 11 rebounds took on extra importance, allowing the team more time on offense. However, the Mustangs were still outrebounded 35-32 while giving up 12 offensive rebounds to the Aggies who earned 12 second chance points.
The win moves the Mustangs to 3-0 in conference play as they will face Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine away from home next week then return to face UC Riverside at 7 p.m. in Mott Gym Jan. 19.