Fresno State
Balanced Attack Leads Cal Poly to Third Straight Win, 64-60 Over Fresno State
12/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — With four players scoring in double figures, the Cal Poly women's basketball team won its third straight game Saturday evening, 64-60 over Fresno State in Mott Athletics Center.
The Bulldogs (3-5) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the initial three-and-a-half minutes, but the Mustangs (5-3) promptly responded with seven unanswered in the ensuing two minutes. It was the first of 13 lead changes on the day.
Fresno State closed the opening quarter up 14-13, but Cal Poly fought back to take its largest lead of the half at 29-23 with 1:35 remaining on a 3-pointer by sophomore forward Emily Anderson (the first basket of her career).
Then beginning the second half ahead 31-26, the Mustangs picked up where they left off, as a layup from junior forward Hannah Gilbert and a 3 via senior guard Beth Balbierz pushed the lead to 36-26.
During the pivotal mid-game stretch, Cal Poly held the Bulldogs without a field goal for 5:04 — and limited them to 8-for-28 shooting after intermission — to distance themselves.
After going to the final period up 50-39, the Mustangs grabbed their largest lead of the night with 6:24 left, as back-to-back 3s from senior point guard Lisa Marie Sanchez and Balbierz made it 60-46.
The Bulldogs, however, rallied to cut the deficit to 60-57 at the 1:47 mark, and closed to within 62-60 with 11 seconds to go.
But with nine seconds left, they sent sophomore Lynn Leaupepe to the free-throw line, where she sank both shots to in effect make it a two-possession game. Fresno State's last-ditch 3 was off the mark at the buzzer.
The Mustangs produced a 24-15 advantage off the bench, and are now 4-2 on the season when getting more points in the paint (following the 24-16 edge inside against the Mountain West foe).
Sophomore guard Dynn Leaupepe finished with a team-high 12 points, while Balbierz and Sanchez both added 11, and Gilbert had 10 (along with nine boards, narrowly missing her fifth double-double this season).
Sanchez is now 22-for-24 from the free-throw line this year.
Cal Poly will have a week of practice before hosting LMU at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
