UC Riverside
UC Riverside Stays Unbeaten in Big West With 75-62 Comeback at Cal Poly
2/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — For the second time this season, the Cal Poly women's basketball team trailed first-place UC Riverside by only one point in the fourth quarter, but the Highlanders stayed undefeated in Big West Conference play Saturday night, completing a comeback for a 75-62 win at Mott Athletics Center.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the opening five minutes on the way to a 20-13 advantage after the first quarter. A layup by sophomore guard Lynn Leaupepe gave them a 24-14 lead — their largest of the first half — with 7:48 to play until the break.
The Highlanders (17-7, 10-0) rallied to leave the court down just 36-33, though.
The teams shot almost mirroring percentages in the half, with UC Riverside at 13-for-26 and Cal Poly 16-for-31, while the rebounding battle also stood at an identical 15-15.
A three-point play from senior guard Beth Balbierz provided Cal Poly a 44-39 lead at the 6:20 mark of the third quarter, but UC Riverside scored the next six points over the ensuing three minutes to take its first lead since 2-1.
A pair of free throws by freshman forward Katie Nunnelley regained the upper hand at 46-45 with 2:57 to play in the third. Simone DeCoud, however, sank a buzzer-beating 3 for the fifth lead change of the period, putting UC Riverside back in front, 52-51.
The Highlanders then went on a 15-5 run to begin the fourth, going ahead 67-56 on a DeCoud layup with 3:44 remaining.
Cal Poly (11-13, 4-7) was able to cut the deficit to single digits (71-62) with just 45 seconds left, but UC Riverside went 10-for-13 from the free-throw line during the final 6:41 en route to tying the all-time series between the two programs, 32-32.
On Jan. 28, the Mustangs were similarly within 71-70 with 9:01 left in the fourth quarter on ESPN3, but the Highlanders also held on at SRC Arena — part of their longest conference winning streak since joining the Big West in 2001-02.
Balbierz finished with 20 points (her fourth career 20-point game).
Leaupepe had her third double-double of the season, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Cal Poly senior point guard Lisa Marie Sanchez added a game-high seven assists.
The Mustangs will next travel to face Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m. Thursday and CSUN (televised by ESPN3) at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Photo © 2016 David E. Holmes • (For more photos of the team in action, click here.)
