Mustangs Continue Hunt for Big West Title Thursday Hosting Cal State Fullerton

Thursday, February 22

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

6 P.M.

Cal State Fullerton

Tickets

Photo by: Eyasu Betwos

Mustangs Continue Hunt for Big West Title Thursday Hosting Cal State Fullerton

2/20/2024 6:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WEEKLY NOTES (PDF)

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — With six games left to go in the regular season, Cal Poly women's basketball currently finds itself in sole possession of fourth place in the Big West standings and just two games in the loss column out of first. The Mustangs (13-10, 9-5 BW) will try to gain some ground back this week when hosting Cal State Fullerton Thursday at 6 p.m. inside Mott Athletics Center before heading to UC Riverside Saturday for a 6 p.m. contest. Both games will air live on ESPN+. Links to those as well as live stats and to buy tickets to Thursday's game can be found on the schedule page. In its lone game last week, Cal Poly fell on the road to first place Hawai'i 59-47. Despite the loss, the Mustangs got solid performances from junior guard Annika Shah and redshirt freshman forward Sierra Lichtie as both scored in double figures. For Shah, it was her 14th double digit scoring game this season and the seventh for Lichtie. Shah leads the Mustangs in scoring at 12.8 points per game which ranks tied for seventh in the Big West. Sha is also the top free throw shooter in the Big West at 96 percent and is 53-55 on the year which would lead the nation if she had a few more attempts. It is also on pace to break Cal Poly's single season free throw percentage record. One ot the top sharp shooters in the Big West, Shah ranks third in the conference in three point percentage at an even 40 percent which ranks 40th in the nation. Meanwhile, senior forward Natalia Ackerman is second on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game which ranks 10th in the Big West. She leads the Big West in field goal percentage (58 percent) and blocks (2.0 per game) which is 26th in the nation. Her 8.2 rebounds per game leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big West. As a team in conference games, the Mustangs lead the Big West in field goal percentage, assists, blocks, and rebounds, are second in scoring and free throw percentage. The Mustangs have been doing this all with a very new and young team. There are nine newcomers to the team with just four returners. The four returners are Shah, Ackerman, redshirt freshman Sierra Lichtie, and junior guard Sydney Bourland. The nine newcomers consist of four Division I transfers and five true freshmen. Following Saturday's game, the Mustangs will return to Mott Athletics Center next week to host rival UC Santa Barbara Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. inside Mott Athletics Center for a pivotal Big West matchup. SCOUTING CAL ST FULLERTON: The Titans come into Thursday's game 8-16 overall and 4-10 in conference play. In their last game, they beat UC San Diego 60-46 to snap a six-game losing streak. They have two players that average double figure points, led by guard Gabi Vidmar's 11.8 points per game. Vidmar ranks fourth in the Big West in three-point percentage at 39 percent. Cal Poly won the first meeting in Fullerton earlier this season, 68-55. SCOUTING UC RIVERSIDE: The Highlanders enter the week 14-11 overall and one game behind Cal Poly in the Big West standings at 9-6. Winners of two straight, they are led by the Big West's leading scorer Jordan Webster who averages 17.6 points per contest. Cal Poly will be looking for revenge after falling to UC Riverside in the first meeting this season, 64-53.