6-7 (1-0BWC)
Hawai'i
8-6 (0-1BWC)
Cal Poly Opens Big West Conference Play With 70-65 Win Over Hawai'i
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Ariana Elegado and Hannah Gilbert combined for 37 points on Thursday night as the Cal Poly women's basketball team opened Big West Conference play with a 70-65 win over Hawai'i at Mott Athletics Center.
Elegado finished with a game-high 19 points, in large part from a 7-for-8 game from the free-throw line. It was quite nearly the third time already this year the senior guard was perfect there (following 12-for-12 and 9-for-9 performances earlier).
In addition to securing five rebounds, she also had eight assists, and is now just seven away from reaching the career total of 390 — which would tie for No. 2 in school history.
Gilbert, meanwhile, played all 40 minutes on the way to a career-best 18 points, setting the tone for a 36-16 team advantage in the paint.
Dynn Leaupepe also was 7-of-8 from the foul line, finishing with 13 points. Both Leaupepe and Gilbert pulled down six rebounds.
Action was close throughout, with neither side ever pulling ahead by more than eight during an evening that included 12 tied scores and 13 lead changes.
After the Rainbow Wahine (8-6 overall) got within 62-60 with 4:18 left, sophomore forward Rachel Koehler converted three straight buckets down low to put the Mustangs up 68-60 with 1:13 remaining.
Cal Poly is now 5-0 this season when reaching the 70-point mark.
The Mustangs (1-0, 6-7) will look to move to 2-0 when they travel to face UC Santa Barbara for the Blue-Green Rivalry in The Thunderdome at 2 p.m. Saturday.
