0-1
Oregon
1-0
Women's Hoop Falls in Opener, 102-93, to Pac-12 Oregon
11/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, OR – The Cal Poly women's basketball team opened strong and fought back, but it would not be enough as the team fell, 102-93, to Pac-12 Oregon in both team's season opener in Eugene on Sunday.
The Mustangs (0-1) will return to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at San Francisco.
Sophomore Jonae Ervin scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Mustangs hitting 11 of 13 shots from the floor and all five from long range. Senior Kristina Santiago added 19 points while junior Kayla Griffin scored 17 points to go along with her team-high 17 rebounds.
Ashlee Burns was the fourth Mustang in double figures with 15 points.
Santiago was eight of 18 from the floor while Giffin hit six of 16 shots.
Along with her double-double, Giffin was credited with seven assists and six steals.
Oregon had five players score 10 or more points led by Jasmin Holliday's 24. Amadda Johnson added 19 with Nia Jackson scoring 18 points.
Cal Poly shot 37 percent from the floor and hit 39 percent from long range while the Ducks shot 45 percent from the floor in the win and hit 38 percent from beyond the arch.
The Mustangs outrebounded Oregon54-51, and had one less turnover 19-18, but the Pac-12 team managed to block nine shots compared to the Mustangs' three.
The Mustangs opened the game with a hot hand and opened up a five point lead (11-6) on a jumper by Santiago. Cal Poly expanded the lead to eight (18-10) with 12:50 left in the half on a free throw by Ervin.
The Mustangs maintained an eight point margin (27-19) on a three pointer by Kristen Ale with 9:09 on the clock.
At that stage Oregon got things going and closed the half on a 30-10 run and a 49-37 lead at the break.
Ervin led the Mustangs at the break with 14 points, hitting all three from long range.
In the second half the Mustangs cut the lead to eight (59-51), five minutes into the second half on a layup by Ariana Elegado.
With 9:16 left in the game, Santiago hit a jumper off an assist by Ervin cutting the Ducks lead to five (77-72) and were within six (85-79) with 4:48 remaining on another Santiago jumper.
But the Mustangs would get no closer as the Ducks pulled away for the 102-93 win.
