4-7
Montana State
7-3
Cal Poly Women's Basketball Falls at Montana State, 71-52
12/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Dynn and Lynn Leaupepe combined for 28 points for the Cal Poly women's basketball team on Tuesday night at Montana State, but the Bobcats won for the 21st time in their last 22 home games, 71-52 in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
Dynn Leaupepe scored a game-high 18 points to go with five rebounds, while her twin sister added 10 points and seven boards.
Montana State, Big Sky regular-season champions in 2015-16, used a 23-2 fourth quarter to avenge a 66-57 Mustang win in San Luis Obispo a year ago.
The Mustangs closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run for a 22-15 lead.
Cal Poly kept rolling to open the second, as a layup from senior forward Hannah Gilbert, a jumper from Lynn Leaupepe and then back-to-back baskets by Dynn Leaupepe established a 30-17 advantage with eight minutes remaining to halftime.
Another jumper from Dynn Leaupepe at the 7:11 mark gave Cal Poly a 13-point lead again, at 32-19.
The Bobcats (7-3) rallied toward the end of the period, narrowing the deficit to 36-32 at the break. Cal Poly lost its starting point guard, Dye Stahley, to an injury late in the second quarter.
Montana State took a 48-43 lead with 2:25 left in the third quarter, but four consecutive free throws from junior forward Mary Kate Evans & Dynn, followed by an Evans layup and another free throw by junior center Nikki Fausey completed a 7-0 run to finish the quarter, putting Cal Poly ahead 50-48 entering the fourth.
The Mustangs (4-7), who began the day No. 29 nationally in free-throw percentage (.760), went 10-for-12 from the foul line Tuesday (.833).
Cal Poly will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule with a New Year's Eve game at CSU Bakersfield, tipping off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 in the Icardo Center. The Mustangs will then open Big West Conference play hosting UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5.
The Blue-Green Rivalry game will also be Tote Bag Night, as free Cal Poly Mustangs bags will be handed out to the first 500 fans in Mott Athletics Center.
