3-3
Pepperdine
4-3
Women's Hoop Lets Lead Slip Away to Pepperdine
11/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Five Mustangs scored in double figures, but it would not be enough as the women's basketball team lost 80-78 to the visiting Waves of Pepperdine on Wednesday evening in Mott Gym.
Pepperdine's Shay Cooney-Williams hit a nine foot jumper with 15 second left for the Waves first lead since 17:15 in the first half.
Following a Cal Poly timeout, Senior Christine Martine had the opportunity to send it into overtime, but the ball rimed out as the buzzer sounded.
With the loss the Mustangs fall to 3-3 while Pepperdine improves to 4-3.
Cal Poly will return to the court with the first of a six-game road trip when they visit Saint Mary's on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2 pm.
Senior Ashley Burns led the Mustangs with 14 points. She hit four of seven from the floor, all from long range. Sophomore Jonae Ervin added 13 points with junior Caroline Reeves scoring 11. Freshman Ariana Elegado and Martin each added 10 points.
Senior Kristina Santiago played eight minutes and scored six points, hitting three of four from the floor before leaving the game.
Pepperdine had three players in double figures led by Katie Menton with 27 points while Cooney-Williams added 19. Lauren Bell chipped in with 15 points.
Cal Poly shot better then 50 percent for the first time this season hitting 52 percent from the floor and 50 percent from long range.
Pepperdine shot an even 50 percent from the floor and converted seven of 17 long range.
The Mustangs committed a season-high 19 turnovers in the loss while Pepperdine turned the ball over 14 times.
Cal Poly opened the game on fire hitting 11 of its first 13 shots while holding a 26-14 advantage with 11:48 left in the opening period. The Mustangs were paced by Santiago with six points when she hit three of four from the floor. Ervin, Elegado and Martin each added five.
The Mustangs largest lead of the half came at the 7:46 mark when Burns hit a three for an 18 point lead (38-20).
Pepperdine cut the lead to single digits (39-31) at the 4:13 mark when Bell converted a pair of free throws
The Mustangs settled for a 10 point lead at the break (46-36) when Elegado made a layup with seven seconds left on the clock.
In the half Cal Poly shot 65 percent from the floor and made six of 10 threes. Pepperdine shot 41 percent from the floor and made five of 10 from long range.
Ervin led the Mustangs at the break with 10 points with Martin adding nine off the bench.
Cal Poly held a 12 point advantage with 16:36 left in the game on a jumper by Kayla Griffin.
Pepperdine cut the lead to less then 10 (55-46) with 14:47 left when Robie Mayberry hit a jumper.
Burns gave the Mustangs a 10 point (66-56) lead on a three pointer from the left side with 9:26 left in the game when Pepperdine went on a 8-0 run to cut the lead to two (66-64).
Cal Poly held a five point lead (74-69) as late as 4:37 on a conventional three point play by Reeves.
Pepperdine scored the next five points to tie the game at 74-74 when Molly Schlemer made a layup for a two point lead.
The Waves came right back to tie on a jumper by Cooney-Williams with 2:08 left on the clock.
The Mustangs would hold their final lead (78-76) with 1:12 on the clock when Giffin converted a pair of free throws.
Cooney-Williams hit a jumper to tie the game, 78-78, with 57 second left in the game.
