Outmatched in size and unable to capitalize on opportunities at the basket, Cal Poly women’s basketball found themselves overwhelmed in a lopsided 81-45 defeat against Stanford on Monday at the Maples Pavilion.
Struggling to contend with the Cardinal’s (5-1) physicality in the paint and missing crucial finishes, the Mustangs (3-4) faced a deficit that only grew as the game wore on.
Stanford kicked off the game on a 9-0 run, while Cal Poly struggled to get off a field goal attempt.
Although they had made good looks to their teammates, the Mustangs struggled to connect with the basket in the opening quarter, leaving senior guard Sidney Richards to put up all of the points in the first quarter, recording seven points.
Senior guard Annika Shah found her rhythm from behind the arc in the second quarter, draining two three-pointers from deep.
The Palo Alto native commanded attention on the court tonight, not just with her performance but with the energy she brought to the game. Despite being on the road, Shah’s presence was undeniable, as the stands erupted in cheers with every play she made.
Shah and sophomore forward Mary Carter wrapped up the night in double figures, each contributing 12 points to their team’s efforts.
Going into halftime, the Mustangs only trailed 33-25. They cut the deficit as they continued to apply pressure to the perimeter by closing out on shooters and disrupting passing lanes inside the paint.
Despite keeping it close in the first half, the Mustangs couldn’t sustain their momentum, ultimately falling by more than 30 points.
Struggles with finishing at the basket and contending with their opponent’s size advantage in the paint proved too much to overcome as the game slipped away in the second half.
The Cardinal went on a 15-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, taking advantage of their lack of discipline on defense.
Three-point shooting, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and controlling the defensive glass allowed Stanford to score throughout the game.
The Mustangs look to bounce back as they gear up for their first Big West Matchup on Dec. 5 at home against UC Davis, the team that ended their Big West playoff run last season.
