Cal State Northridge
Matadors Upset Cal Poly 68-65
2/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Cal State Northridge upset the conference leading Cal Poly women's basketball team 68-65 Thursday night giving the Mustangs only their second conference loss of the season. With the loss Cal Poly maintains first place, but drops to 10-2 in Big West play and 14-9 overall while CSUN improves to 4-9 and 4-22 overall.
Cal Poly was led by senior Rachel Clancy with 20 points while junior Abby Bloetscher scored 14 before fouling out. Ashlee Burns came off the bench to add 10 points.
CSUN had four players score in double figures led by Janet Alvarado with 16. Violet Alama and Amanda Thomson added 14 points each with Jasmine Erving scoring 10.
Each team shot 42 percent from the floor, but CSUN made nine of 18 from long range while Cal Poly could only manage six of 19. Cal Poly went to the line 14 time and made nine while CSUN made seven of 10.
The Matadors outrebounded the Mustangs 38-37, but committed one more turnover, 18-17.
In the first half Cal Poly edged out to an 11-9 lead on a Burns three pointer at 13:50, but the Matadors answered back when Thomson connected on a three and a one point lead.
Cal Poly went on a quick 6-0 run when Clancy connected on a pair of threes to give the Mustangs a 17-12 lead (11:24).
The Matadors took the lead when Alama made a traditional three point play (20-19) and would go on to hold a 36-33 advantage at the break.
In the second half a layup by Bloetscher at 17:53 tied the game at 36-36 and would conclude a 9-2 run when hit a jumper giving the Mustangs a 45-39 lead with 13:36 left.
CSUN would come back to tie the game at 45-45 when Analee Viena-Lota hit a three with just under 12 minutes remaining.
Cal Poly held a 57-51 lead with eight minutes remaining when Clancy hit a three and a four point lead at 61-57 when Desiray Johnson made a layup with 4:38 left.
But the Matadors would not give up and tied the game at 63-63 when Thomson hit a three and took the lead for good when Alama made a break away layup.
CSUN extended the lead in the closing minute to five (68-63) until Caroline Reeves connected on a jumper with two seconds remaining.
Mustangs return to the court on Feb. 19th when the team visits UC Riverside for a Big West Conference game at 7 pm.
