Women’s Basketball Team Loses Twice

By Michael Zavala

The women’s basketball team knew it would be a challenge putting
together a winning streak on the road against two tough teams.

After defeating Cal State Stanislaus to snap its five-game
losing streak, Cal Poly was unable to continue its good fortune,
losing both of its road games over the weekend.

The Broncos (4-10, 3-6) fell to UC San Diego, 54-78, on Saturday
in the RIMAC?Arena.

The loss came one night after Cal Poly lost to Cal State
Dominguez Hills, 63-70, in the Torodome.

Cal Poly struggled from the field Saturday, shooting 28.6
percent overall and 20 percent from 3-point range.

UCSD held the rebounding advantage, 45-37, and also had the edge
in assists, 20-9.

The Broncos only had one more turnover than the Tritons, 21-20,
but UCSD had more points off turnovers, 24-13.

Junior Ashley Moody led Cal Poly with 14 points and 4
steals.

Junior Porsche’ Kirksey had 10 points and junior Vanessa
Dominguez contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

UCSD’s Leora Juster led all scorers with 31 points and Hillary
Hansen was the second leading scorer with 20.

Their combined 51 points was 65.3 percent of the Tritons’
output.

The game began with the teams trading baskets, with a 4-4 tie
early.

Then UCSD went on a 15-0 run capped by a Michelle Ostier free
throw with 8:34 left in the half.

Head coach Michelle Fortier cited UCSD’s team height as a key
element in Cal Poly’s struggles.

“The length of their zone is different than what we’ve played
against,” said Fortier.

The Broncos cut the lead down to 10 at one point but the Tritons
stretched the lead to as much as 17 before taking a 16-point lead
into the half.

Cal Poly’s difficulties continued into the second half as UCSD
went on a 7-0 run that widened the gap to 22 with 10:58 left in the
game.

UCSD continued the pressure, raising its lead as high as 30 at
one point before taking the 24-point victory.

On Friday, though the Broncos only had 14 turnovers, Cal State
Dominguez Hills outplayed them in the first half, shooting 53.1
percent from the field compared to just 39.4 percent for Cal
Poly.

“If we hold [Dominguez Hills] to less than 40 points in the
first half, we win that game,” said Fortier.

Dominguez had a double-double, leading the team with 20 points
and 12 rebounds.

Freshman Jessica Hopkins scored a career-high 16 points and
sophomore Lauren Kitaguchi added nine points off a 3-for-4 night
from beyond the arc.

The Toros’ Brigayle Iglehart led all scorers with 21 points.

Dominguez Hills started quick, jumping to a 6-point lead, 8-2,
before Cal Poly came back to tie.

However, the Toros continued to stay a step ahead of the
Broncos, going on an 8-0 run to increase its lead to nine,
24-15.

But again Cal Poly responded, firing off a 7-0 run to close the
gap to two.

The first half ended with Dominguez Hills adding to its lead in
small doses, taking a 7-point advantage into the half.

The Broncos started off the second half strong, tying the game
with a 7-0 run and began to build some momentum for a late-game
comeback.

From there, however, the team hit a wall.

The team’s shooting woes continued into the second half.

Cal Poly shot only 29.2 percent from the field, though the team
kept close with strong free throw shooting, going 14-17 from the
line.

The Toros once again ran their lead up to seven and led by as
much as 11 with 8:23 left in the game.

From there, the two teams played back and forth until the end of
the game, with Dominguez Hills taking home a 7-point victory.

Cal Poly never got closer than six points throughout the entire
game.

The Broncos will return to the court at home Friday against Cal
State Bakersfield and Saturday against Cal State L.A.

Michael Zavala can be reached by e-mail at
sports@thepolypost.com or by phone at (909) 869-4630.

Women’s Basketball Team Loses Twice