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Texas A&M Corpus Christi
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Cal Poly Gets 18 and 10 from Garza, 17 Steals in 63-48 Win
11/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly senior forward Taryn Garza scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds on Saturday night, and the Mustangs claimed 17 steals — the program's most since two seasons ago — to finish the eighth annual ShareSLO Holiday Tournament in Mott Athletics Center with a 63-48 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Garza shot 8 for 10, and also had a block and four steals, part of a team defensive effort that produced as many takeaways as against Long Beach State during a 2012-13 game.
The other multi-steal nights came from junior guard Beth Balbierz and freshmen guards Dynn and Lynn Leaupepe (all with three).
The Islanders, who opened the tournament with a 57-47 win over Kent State, got out to a 14-5 lead in the initial seven minutes.
But after they took a 20-16 lead with 9:53 to play until the break, the Mustangs (3-3) responded by scoring the next 13 points to go up 29-20. They didn't let up, taking a 39-22 lead two minutes before halftime on a bucket by Garza.
It was the second evening in a row in which Cal Poly went on a massive run, following Friday's 16-0 stretch against Dartmouth (4-0).
The Mustangs maintained all the momentum through the second half, taking their largest lead at 62-36 with 5:25 remaining, as 11 players got into the game off the bench.
Sophomore center Hannah Gilbert finished with 11 points, and senior guard Kristen Ale distributed five assists, tying her career high from two previous games.
Cal Poly will head to the Bay Area to take on Santa Clara at 7 p.m. Tuesday before spending more than a week exclusively on the practice floor to prep for a home game against Saint Mary's at 2 p.m. Dec. 14.
Photos © 2014 David E. Holmes
