Cal Poly Pomona Holds On for CCAA Women's Win Over Toros, 81-78
Broncos send Toros to third loss in a row in winning crucial CCAA tilt
February 26, 2005

Complete Box Score

POMONA, Calif.—(March 2, 2005)—Cal Poly Pomona held on for a 81-78 win in a crucial California Collegiate Athletic Association game over Cal State Dominguez Hills Wednesday night at Kellogg Gymnasium sending the visiting Toros to their third-consecutive defeat.

Tonight’s game lived up to its billing with huge implications on the line in the CCAA title chase. CSUDH came in tied atop the league standings with Pomona one game behind. The Toros will now need help in order to capture at least a share of the CCAA Crown.

Cal Poly Pomona took a 38-30 lead into halftime thanks in part to 14 first half points by Brandi Fletcher. The Broncos also dominated on the glass holding a 26-12 advantage in the first twenty minutes of play.

CPP (19-7, 14-5 CCAA) came out of the break and built a fourteen point lead, 57-43, at 11:38. However, the Toros chipped away using a 7-2 run over the next 2:24 to trim the deficit down to seven points, 59-52, capped on a Lindsay Peloza (Aliso Viejo/Capistrano Valley HS) trey with 9:14 remaining.

The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes until Jessica Liang (Alhambra/Mark Keppel HS) hit a three-pointer at 6:01 to make it 65-60. A Tameka Blue layup with 3:09 left cut the lead even further to 69-67.

Cal State Dominguez Hills guard Octavia Askew (Van Nuys/Birmingham HS) tied the game, 69-69, just seventeen seconds later in their next possession later after hitting a pair of free throws with 2:58 left in the game. But a Candice Allen baseline jumper in their next possession gave the Broncos the lead back that they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Toros would get within one point with 1:19 left after a Blue three-pointer, however, Pomona would get a long-range shot from Shanika Perkins and a layup by Brandi Fletcher in the final minute, while the Toros would go cold from the floor coming away with no points in their next two possessions giving the Broncos a 79-72 lead with 12.5 seconds left in the game. Blue knocked down a trey and Crystal Maciel (Los Angeles/Southgate HS) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to account for the final.

Freshman center Alana Bailey (Altadena/John Muir HS) led four Toro players in double-digit scoring with 20 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Blue followed with 18 points, while Liang came off the bench to contribute 13.

CSUDH (16-9, 14-5 CCAA) came into the night in a tie for first in the league standings with Chico State who is at Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State L.A. this weekend. The Toros, who close out its regular season at home on Saturday against Cal State Monterey Bay at 5:30, will need a win and Chico State loss to earn at least a share of its first conference title since the 1995-96 season.