4-7
Colorado State
8-3
Defending Mountain West Champ Colorado State Hangs on to Edge Cal Poly
12/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Late back-to-back 3-pointers by Ariana Elegado brought the Cal Poly women's basketball team within a point of the defending Mountain West Conference regular-season champion on Sunday afternoon in Moby Arena, but Colorado State held on through the closing seconds for a 65-63 win at the end of the Mustangs' week-long road trip.
While the Rams didn't relinquish their second-half lead, Cal Poly never went away. Elegado hit her first clutch bomb with 4:24 left on the clock, cutting the gap to 60-56, before stepping back for another on the next trip up the floor — this time from a few feet behind the line (on the right side) — to make it 60-59 with 3:48 showing.
Neither team scored until three minutes later, when Alana Arias converted an opportunity in the paint, plus a foul from a deep block-or-charge call, to go up 63-59.
Soon afterward, senior guard Kristen Ale drove the length of the floor for a layup to pull Cal Poly within 65-63 with 25 seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbound, freshman wing Lynn Leaupepe came up with a steal, but as the Mustangs tried to create a look on the perimeter following a kick-out in the last few moments, Colorado State (8-3) tapped the ball loose to secure their fourth straight victory.
The Mustangs had taken their largest lead three minutes before halftime, at 28-22, on a Leaupepe layup, before the Rams knocked down four of their last five shots to enter the break ahead 32-30. Cal Poly didn't attempt any free throws during the initial 23 minutes.
Colorado State used a 12-3 run to take a 53-41 advantage, but back-to-back 3s (by Dynn Leaupepe and Elegado) reduced the deficit to two possessions, at 55-49, prompting a Ram timeout at the 9:37 mark.
Elegado finished with 14 points and four assists. The senior guard has made at least four 3s in each of her past three games (going a combined 15-for-27 during that stretch).
Sophomore center Hannah Gilbert had 12 points, while junior guard Beth Balbierz added 10, along with six boards. Ale distributed a career-high eight assists.
After the holidays, the Mustangs will wrap up non-conference play by welcoming WAC frontrunner Bakersfield (8-3) to Mott Athletics Center for a 2 p.m. tipoff on Saturday, Jan. 3.
