By Cael Cross, March 17, 2026
The top-seeded Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team routed Chico State in the California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball tournament semifinals 79-57 March 6, led by guard Andrea Stajic scoring a career-high 25 points.
Stajic headed into the tournament with a hot hand, averaging 17.8 points per game in her last five regular season games. She took no time to get settled in against the Wildcats, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone, on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field and 4-4 from behind the arc.
It also marked the fifth time in the last six games Stajic knocked down at least three 3-pointers who mentioned the confidence boost she gets from her teammates wanting her to shoot more often.
“My teammates are always encouraging me to shoot the ball,” Stajic said. “Having them in my ear and never feeling bad about taking any shots. They’re always crashing.”
Stajic got the scoring started early in the first with back-to-back jumpers. Forwards Hunter Hudson and Syndey Nelson also got involved early with points off the fastbreak to give CPP an early 11-4 lead.
Chico struggled to match the tenacity of the Broncos on the glass, giving up numerous offensive rebounds. The Broncos attempted 13 more shots in the first quarter alone.
Despite the rebounding success the Broncos have had this season, Hudson noted they don’t focus on the numbers.
“I just go out there and just crash,” Hudson said. “I don’t think we focus on the numbers, we just focus on crashing as a team.”
CPP closed out the quarter on a 12-2 run to lead 28-12.
The second quarter saw more of the same on the defensive side from the Broncos, suffocating the Wildcats offense and forcing turnovers.
Stajic continued her offensive dominance, scoring multiple contested shots to extend the lead to 35-17.
The Wildcats found a bit of success toward the end of the half with back-to-back baskets from forward Madison Perry, but the Broncos reclaimed the momentum when guard Brielle Minor stole the ball and scored with one second left, leading CPP into the break with a 43-23 lead.
The Broncos started the second half just as strong. Nelson and Minor led an early 11-4 run to blow the lead up to 54-27.
Turnovers became an issue for the Broncos soon after, which allowed the Wildcats to get easy points at the basket, as well as getting to the free throw line.
Despite the down quarter for CPP, key shots from Minor and guard Alexis Woodson maintained the 20-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The final period saw a much slower-paced game from the Broncos, who controlled the game to preserve the lead. Guard Kadence Lloyd connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 73-49.
The Wildcats picked it up slightly on the offensive side, but blocked shots from forwards Mydrea Moore and Madison Eade shut down any momentum, and the Broncos closed out the 79-57 victory.
Nelson and Minor both ended up in double-digits, scoring 14 and 13, while Hudson led both teams in rebounding with 13, the sixth time she’s notched double-digit rebounds in the last seven games.
Head coach Danelle Bishop praised her team’s offensive abilities despite focusing on the defensive side more in practice.
“Just let them play,” Bishop said. “I realized that’s our best offense sometimes. Even though the sets will still work, sometimes as a coach it’s hard, so I got to sit back and watch. It’s fun to watch sometimes.”
Bishop looks to claim her second CCAA tournament title, having won in her first season as head coach at Cal Poly Pomona back in 2011.
CPP have now reached back-to-back CCAA tournament finals, falling short last season to Cal State Dominguez Hills. They had another chance to secure the title against the third seed in Cal State Los Angeles March 7, this time in front of the home fans at Kellogg Arena as the hosts.
Feature image courtesy of Cael Cross