Loyola Marymount
Balbierz, Gilbert Ignite Fourth Straight Win for Cal Poly, 70-58 Over LMU
12/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Mustangs Go on 29-3 Second-Half Run in Comeback at Home
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Hannah Gilbert and Beth Balbierz each scored 19 points while lifting the Cal Poly women's basketball team to its fourth consecutive win, 70-58 over Loyola Marymount on Saturday in Mott Athletics Center.
A back-and-forth first quarter featuring six ties and five lead changes ended with the Lions up 20-19.
Sophie Taylor, LMU's leading scorer, converted a layup three-and-a-half minutes into the second quarter to provide a 28-25 lead, but the Mustangs quickly responded with an 8-0 run en route to a 35-32 halftime advantage.
The Lions, however, got out to a fast start after the break, going ahead 48-41 four-and-a-half minutes into the third quarter.
But that's when the Mustangs went on a fiery 29-3 run to take control.
Sophomore wing Dynn Leaupepe jump-started the furious comeback with a jumper, followed by eight unanswered points from Balbierz to make it 51-48 with 58 seconds left.
Balbierz, a senior guard, also made her mark at the end of the quarter, hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 56-50 lead.
The surge continued to begin the fourth, as the Mustangs rolled to their largest lead of the afternoon, 70-51, with 4:13 remaining.
Gilbert's 19 points — which came on a 9-for-13 performance by the junior — represented a new career high. Balbierz, meanwhile, finished 6-for-9 overall, as well as 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
Senior point guard Lisa Marie Sanchez distributed a career-high eight assists in the victory.
Cal Poly has now outscored its opponents in the paint during seven of its nine games.
The Mustangs (6-3) will now embark on a three-game road trip, traveling to Saint Mary's (7-2) for a 6:30 p.m. Thursday tipoff, then heading to CSU Bakersfield (1-8) for a 1 p.m. Saturday matchup before taking on No. 7-ranked Oregon State (6-0) at 3 p.m. Dec. 21.
