2-2
Pepperdine
3-2
Pepperdine Edges Cal Poly 76-69 in Back-and-Forth Battle
11/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Led by a 29-point game from Bria Richardson, the Pepperdine women's basketball team claimed the last of nine lead changes on Tuesday night to leave Mott Athletics Center with a 76-69 non-conference win against Cal Poly.
The Waves (3-2) jumped out to an early lead before a 12-0 Mustang run (which tied their longest so far on the young season) cut the deficit to 21-18. Pepperdine led 31-24 at halftime.
Cal Poly (2-2) chipped away after coming back to the court, though, and took the lead at the 14:38 mark on a 3 by senior guard Kristen Ale to make it 38-37.
A layup by sophomore center Hannah Gilbert put the Mustangs up 42-39 two possessions later, but Pepperdine re-asserted itself from there, shooting 29 of its 34 free throws in the latter half. Richardson also finished with nine steals.
The outcome avenged an 80-77 Mustang win in Malibu last year.
Freshman wing Dynn Leaupepe led Cal Poly with 14 points, a season-high 11 rebounds and three steals.
Gilbert finished with 14 points and five rebounds. After coming into the game 49th in the country in field-goal percentage, she was again efficient down low, going 7 for 12.
Ale also had her second straight double-figures performance, adding 12 points along with four assists.
Mustang senior forward Taryn Garza had seven points and 10 rebounds.
After a 14-7 margin Tuesday, Cal Poly's backups have outscored opposing benches every game thus far.
Cal Poly will stay in the MAC for the upcoming ShareSLO Holiday Tournament, facing Dartmouth at 5 p.m. Friday and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi again at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Kent State will also play in San Luis Obispo the two days after Thanksgiving, as the tournament will open with 3 p.m. games. Admission is free to all.
Photos © 2014 David E. Holmes
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