3-18,1-10Big West
UC Riverside
7-14,5-6Big West
Mustangs Drop Close One to UC Riverside, 70-66
1/31/2026 5:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Freshman Charish Thompson recorded her fourth game of the season scoring at least 20 points but the Cal Poly women’s basketball team dropped a close contest with UC Riverside Saturday inside Mott Athletics Center, 70-66.
Thompson scored a team high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Vanessa McManus added 19 points, 13 in the fourth quarter alone, and three steals for the Mustangs (3-18, 1-10 Big West), who were able to cut a 13 point fourth quarter deficit down to as little as two.
The Highlanders (7-14, 5-6 Big West) had three players in double figures, led by the Big West’s leading scorer in Hannah Wickstrom’s 24. UC Riverside shot 47 percent from the field as a team and just under 30 percent from three.
UC Riverside got out to a 7-0 lead to begin the game. Cal Poly was able to claw back and make it a 16-13 game heading into the second quarter. The Highlanders opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run to go up 25-13. Cal Poly trailed at halftime, 32-23.
The third was a close battle as the Highlanders outscored the Mustangs by just one to lead by 10 heading to the fourth. Down 13 with just under five minutes left in the game, Cal Poly used a 10-2 run to get back within five with three minutes left.
A basket by the Highlanders made it a 64-54 game with two minutes left. An 8-1 run by the Mustangs made it a 65-62 game with 24 seconds to play. Missed free throws by UC Riverside kept the Mustangs in it. McManus made a three with three seconds left to make it a 68-66 game but UC Riverside then made two free throws to seal it.
The Mustangs will go on the road next Thursday, Feb. 5 for a 6 p.m. game on ESPN+.
