The Cal Poly women’s basketball team fell to Hawaii in a 68-47 loss on Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
The Mustangs (14-5, 7-9 Big West) loss to the Rainbow Wahine (19-10, 12-4) makes them the No. 6 seeds in the upcoming Big West Conference Tournament. Hawaii will be the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
Junior forward Amanda Lovely got Cal Poly off to a hot start by drilling a three-pointer on the Mustangs’ first possession. However, Cal Poly then cooled off considerably and left the first quarter down 19-8.
Cal Poly trimmed its deficit to seven near the end of the second quarter with three consecutive baskets – a jump shot and layup from sophomore guard Dynn Leaupepe and a jumper by freshman forward Katie Nunnelley. But Hawaii fired back with an 8-0 run and the Mustangs went into the half down 31-16.
In the first five minutes of the third quarter, the Rainbow Wahine overwhelmed the Mustangs with an 11-2 run, increasing their lead to 42-18.
The Mustangs were held to less than 10 points in every quarter except the fourth, when they erupted for 22 points. Cal Poly shot just 24 percent from field on Saturday, compared to the Rainbow Wahine’s 42 percent.
Lovely finished with eight points to go with five rebounds and freshman guard Dye Stahley had a season-high seven points and four steals. Leaupepe only put up five points after averaging 19 points in the last four games.
The 34th Annual Big West Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament will take place on March 8-9 in Bren Events Center at UC Irvine and on March 11-12 in at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Cal Poly will play their first game in the Big West Conference Tournament against No. 7 seed CSUN at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8.