Cal Poly Women’s basketball suffered its first loss of the season Monday, falling 64-51 to Idaho State at Reed Gym in Pocatello, Idaho.
Sumer Lee led the Mustangs (2-1) with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. Cal Poly shot 32% from the field and made three of 16 attempts from 3-point range. The Mustangs made 16 of 19 free throws, but Idaho State outrebounded them 36-20.
Cal Poly trailed 13-11 after the first quarter, then briefly took a 24-22 lead in the second. Idaho State closed the half with an 8-0 run to take a 31-28 lead into the break.
The Bengals (2-1) then extended their advantage early in the third quarter, opening the half on a 10-2 run. Cal Poly responded late in the period when Ysabella Von Seipler made a 3-pointer and Dessi Ulmer followed with a layup, cutting the deficit to 39-37 with 4:32 left in the quarter.
Idaho State answered with an 11-2 run spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth. Aspen Caldwell’s 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer gave the Bengals a 50-39 lead. Idaho State stretched the lead to 53-39 early in the fourth.
Lee hit a 3-pointer with 4:12 left to cut the lead to 55-46, but the Mustangs did not get closer. Caldwell scored 18 points for Idaho State, including 16 after halftime.
Avery Knapp scored eight points off the bench and made all six of her free throws. Von Seipler and Gabby Robinson each added seven points. Robinson also had five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Cal Poly made one of 11 field-goal attempts in the first quarter but stayed close by converting nine of 10 free throws. The Mustangs committed 29 fouls, and Ulmer and Knapp fouled out before the fourth-quarter media break.
The Mustangs forced 18 turnovers and scored nine points off them, but missed most of their shots and were outrebounded by 16. The loss ended the Mustangs’ two-game winning streak to open the season.
Cal Poly returns to Mott Athletics Center on Wednesday to host Seattle at 6 p.m.