Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team started its conference season opener with a blowout win over Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 inside Kellogg Arena.
Although the Broncos’ senior starting forward Kasey Smit won the tip to get her team going, they were off to a slow start as they trailed CSUSB 19-12.
The Broncos were able to work their offense and defense slightly smoother, as they scored 19 of their own in the second quarter and held CSUSB to only 12 points with the score of 37-31 heading into the third quarter.
“(During halftime), I was pretty blunt and honest and needed more from all of them, especially (Ricketson and Smit),” head coach Danelle Bishop said. “They’re two of our top leaders on our team, both on the court and off the court and I needed them to step up and they sure did. They responded great, they’re extremely coachable and just the epitome of what a Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball player means.”
The two took on the challenge and helped the team add on 22 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth and held the Coyotes to only 13 points in the third and fourth quarters.
“We did a good job of fixing our mistakes from the first half and fixing our intensity and our attitude, so that we could come out the second half and just take it to them,” Ricketson said.
The dynamic duo of Ricketson and Smit produced positive contributions to the team as Ricketson dished out eight assists and led the team with 11 rebounds, and Smit recorded a double-double with a scoring tear of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
“We all hang out with each other and I think it just relates back to the court (and that) we have such good chemistry,” Smit said. “Me and Jackie, we like hanging out all the time and that’s why you can tell on the court and it actually works, so we have really good chemistry.”
Ricketson’s assists got multiple teammates involved offensively and she had the highest box plus/minus result with a grade of +28 followed by Smit with +21.
“Coming and knowing your school is 100% precent behind you and the atmosphere is just really fun to be around and they deserve it. (The team) work(s) hard every day and the fans deserve to come out and watch them be successful,” Bishop said. “I really feel like if we can continue to get our Bronco student body out in the stands that they could be our sixth man and really help us get over the hump sometimes. When maybe we might be feeling a little lower, going through a little slump, they can really help us and I hope they realize that.”
The Broncos defeated the Coyotes in an 82-57 blowout to capture their first conference win of the season.
The Broncos took their big win energy with them against Cal State Monterey Bay at the Kelp Bed Arena in Seaside at 1 p.m. Nov. 23.
The dynamic duo, Ricketson and Smit, were at it again as they led the team in points, combining for 29 of the team’s 59 points and 15 rebounds.
The Broncos had a rough fourth quarter, only putting up four points on the board, but still were able to seal the win with a final score of 59-54.
The Broncos are now 2-0 in their conference and will take on the Concordia-Irvine Eagles at home in the Kellogg Arena 4 p.m. Nov. 27, just in time before Thanksgiving.