The Cal Poly women’s basketball team followed up two season-opening wins, with two losses — the last being a 104-63 loss to Illinois Tuesday morning in Champaign, Ill.
The Mustangs (2-2) defeated Seattle and Fresno State to start the season and have since lost to Loyola Marymount and the Fighting Illini.
Midway through the first half, Illinois boasted a 25-15 lead, and then embarked on a 6-0 run to increase the advantage.
With 5:22 left in the first half, Illinois further increased that lead to 16.
Cal Poly inched back within 11 points off center Abby Bloetscher’s layup with 1:39 left in the half. But then Illinois went on another run, this time 9-2 to end the first half.
Cal Poly stared at a 20-point deficit with 14 minutes left in the game, and it grew to 29 four minutes later. With the score 78-49, the Mustangs couldn’t fight back, marking their second loss of the season.
Against Illinois, guard Desiray Johnston tied a career-high 16 points, hitting five of eight shot attempts from the floor. She was also hit two of three shots from behind the 3-point arc and was a perfect four of four from the line. To go with Johnston, guard Rachel Clancy added 15 points and Bloetscher boasted 11.
For the Fighting Illini, Karisma Penn scored a team-high 30 points to go with her 10 rebounds. Macie Blinn and Lydia McCully both scored 17 as well.
As a team, Illinois shot 62 percent from the floor and close to 60 percent from 3-point range.
Cal Poly shot 35 percent as a team and close to 36 from the 3-point line.
The Mustangs return to action on Dec. 3 in the ASU Classic to play Arizona State.