1-1
San Francisco
1-2
Santiago's Career-High Powers Women's Hoop Over Dons
11/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Senior Kristina Santiago scored a career-high 36 points in leading the Cal Poly women's basketball team to a 82-66 win over the University of San Francisco in a non-conference game in War Memorial Gym on Wednesday.
With the win the Mustangs improve to 1-1 on the season while USF falls to 1-2.
Cal Poly will return to the court on Sunday in the team's home opener against Fresno State at 2 pm in Mott Gym.
Santiago's career-high came when she hit 14 of 27 shots from the floor including a three pointer. She hit seven of nine from the line.
Senior Christine Martin came off the bench to tie her career-high with 12 points hitting five of seven from the floor. Junior Brittany Woodard added 11.
Rheina Ale led the Dons with 27 points while Mel Khlok added 10 in the loss.
Cal Poly shot 42 percent from the floor and made 29 percent from long range while USF shot 33 percent from the floor and 25 percent from beyond the arch.
Santiago also led the Mustangs in rebounds when she tied her career-high of 15. Junior Kayla Griffin and Woodard each added eight boards as the Mustangs outrebounded the Dons 49-45.
The Mustangs took their first lead of the game, 11-10, on a jumper by Santiago, but it wasn't until the 5:48 mark of the first half the Mustangs were able to build a six point lead (33-27) on a layup and free throw by Santiago.
With 2:10 left in the half Santiago gave the Mustangs a nine point lead (39-30) on a tip-in.
At the break Cal Poly held a 43-34 advantage in a half dominated by Santiago. The redshirt senior had recorded a double-double at the half with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
In the half she hit 10 of 15 shots from the floor.
Cal Poly made it a 16 point lead (52-36) on a three by Martin at the 15:09 mark.
Midway through the final period (10:50) the Mustangs maintained a 57-44 lead.
USF cut the lead to 10 at the 9:14 mark on a layup by Whitney Daniels.
Just when it looked as if USF would cut the lead to single digits, Martin hit a jumper to give the Mustangs a 64-49 advantage with 7:48 left to play.
The Dons did cut the lead to nine (68-59) when Rheina Ale made a layup and free throw with 5:19 left in the game.
The Mustangs were able to take it back to double figures (75-64) when Brittany Woodard hit a jumper with 2:37 left.
The Mustangs closed the game over the final 2:09 on a 7-2 run winning 82-66.
