0-1
(10/11) Stanford
1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 55 |
| Stanford | 20 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 83 |
No. 10/11 Stanford Pulls Away for 83-55 Win Over Cal Poly in Season Opener
11/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STANFORD, Calif. — The Cal Poly women's basketball team cut Stanford's lead to 25-23 midway through the second quarter in the season opener for both squads on Friday night, but the No. 10/11-ranked Cardinal went on to pull away for an 83-55 home win over the Mustangs at Maples Pavilion.
After Briana Roberson opened the game with a jumper, the Mustangs responded with the next five points on their ensuing two trips up the floor thanks to a 3-pointer from Amanda Lovely followed by a basket by fellow senior forward Hannah Gilbert.
Stanford — which made an Elite Eight run during its 29th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago — then went on a 9-0 run for an 11-5 lead, before Gilbert scored again to keep the Mustangs within four with 3:47 remaining in the first quarter.
Cal Poly stayed close, ending the initial period down 20-14. Karlie Samuelson began the second quarter with a 3, but back-to-back buckets for Gilbert again kept the Mustangs in striking distance, trailing 23-18.
A 3-pointer by junior guard Gabby Grupalo brought Cal Poly within 25-23 with 5:34 to play until halftime. Stanford answered with a 12-0 surge spanning the next 2:46, though, for a 37-23 margin on the way to a 38-27 advantage at the break.
Gilbert had 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the first half, while Roberson had a team-high 10 points.
Stanford scored the first seven points of the third quarter before junior Lynn Leaupepe converted a put-back to make it 45-29.
A Samuelson 3 pushed the score to 55-31 with 4:22 left until the fourth quarter. Cal Poly, however, responded with back-to-back 3s of its own, as junior forward Mary Kate Evans and redshirt freshman guard Breezi Holt closed the deficit to 18.
Stanford didn't let it get any closer from there, though, ending the third up 61-41. Holt, making her collegiate debut, sank another 3 with 5:54 left in regulation to again cut the gap to 21, at 68-47.
Gilbert, a preseason All-Big West Conference honoree, finished with a game-high 17 points. Also with six rebounds, she now has 480 for her career — 28 boards away from joining the top 10 in school history.
Grupalo and Leaupepe each were next with 11 points for the Mustangs. Leaupepe also secured a game-best 10 rebounds, earning her fourth career double-double.
Highlighted by two apiece for Grupalo, Lovely and Gilbert, Cal Poly had a 9-6 edge in steals on the evening. Roberson finished with 16 points, while All-Pac-12 senior forward Erica McCall added14 for Stanford.
The Mustangs will continue their road trip by heading to Sacramento State for a 2 p.m. tipoff Sunday. The home opener will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 against Northern Arizona (also Free Poster Night in Mott Athletics Center).
