Cal Poly women’s basketball traveled to Santa Barbara to face UC Santa Barbara in the first leg of the Blue-Green rivalry on Saturday at the Thunderdome.
In a game that went down to the wire, the Mustangs (8-8, 3-3 Big West) came up with their second win in a row, handing the Gauchos (9-6, 3-2 Big West) their second loss in Big West play.
The defensive battle of a game saw both teams shooting just over 30% from the field and Cal Poly trailing by two as the clock wound down.
Final seconds of the game
With under two minutes remaining, the Mustangs were trailing and struggling to find their rhythm on offense.
But in the game’s final play, graduate guard Ashley Hiraki seized control as Cal Poly’s offense spread across the court.
Driving into the paint with a quick spin move, she finished a contested layup, drawing a foul for an and-one. Her last-second basket tied the game, allowing her the chance to take the lead with a crucial free throw.
Her shot was pure, giving Cal Poly a 51-50 lead and sealing their fate as they secured the crucial victory in the game’s final moments.
A defensive battle
The matchup was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams struggling to execute a consistent offensive rhythm that could break the deadlock.
Both teams kept the deficit within reach, with neither team outscoring the other by more than two points in any quarter.
Hiraki was one of two Mustangs with a team-leading 14 points, half of which came from the free-throw line and would ultimately be the difference in the tightly contested matchup.
In the close game, defensive rebounding and an overall 40-34 rebounding advantage was crucial for the Mustangs in the win over the Gauchos.
Redshirt sophomore forward Sierra Lichtie also recorded 14 points and team-leading nine rebounds.
The Mustangs had 15 turnovers, five less than their season average, and focused on ball safety, an issue that has plagued them all season.
Cal Poly will face off against UC Santa Barbara later again this season for the second leg of the Blue-Green rivalry on Feb. 27, at home in Mott Athletics Center.
Their focus will be on their next opponent, UC Davis, who they will compete against on the road on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. at the University Credit Union Center.
