Saturday night’s matchup against Cal State Fullerton reflected much of what Cal Poly Women’s Basketball has battled through this season, as early struggles, turnovers and a young rotation once again proved difficult to overcome in a 71-43 loss to the Titans, marking the Mustangs’ fifth straight defeat.
Cal Poly entered the Fullerton arena still searching for consistency on both ends of the floor. With one of the youngest rosters in the Big West, the Mustangs have leaned heavily on younger contributors, often flashing potential but struggling to sustain it for four full quarters. That pattern surfaced again against Fullerton, as offensive rhythm proved elusive early and momentum quickly swung toward the home team.
Turnovers continued to loom large. Cal Poly finished the night with 26 giveaways, pushing the Mustangs’ season average to 21.4 per game and allowing Fullerton to thrive in transition. On the year, Cal Poly has frequently found itself fighting uphill when opponents convert mistakes into points, a challenge that once again shaped the outcome Saturday, as the Titans scored 30 points off turnovers.
Interior play has also been a season-long hurdle. Fullerton controlled the paint throughout the contest, outscoring Cal Poly 40-18 inside. For a Mustang team still developing size and depth in the post, second-chance opportunities and interior defense have remained ongoing areas of growth as conference play intensifies.
Despite the lopsided final score, Cal Poly continued to show individual development, particularly from its freshman core. Forward Charish Thompson led the Mustangs with 12 points, continuing a season in which she has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable scoring options. Her steady presence has been a bright spot amid a rotation still learning the pace and physicality of Division I play.
The Mustangs have now dropped five straight games, but the numbers only tell part of the story. Throughout the season, Cal Poly has remained competitive in stretches, often responding after halftime with improved energy and defensive effort. Saturday followed that trend, as the Mustangs played their most composed basketball after the break, offering another glimpse of the team’s long-term potential.
For a program navigating a rebuilding year, progress has often come in moments rather than results. Each game continues to serve as a learning opportunity for a roster gaining experience against veteran-heavy conference opponents.
Cal Poly will look to carry those lessons forward as it returns home for a two-game homestand next week, beginning Thursday, January 29th at 6 p.m. against Cal State Bakersfield, where the Mustangs will aim to turn development into results in front of the Mott Athletics Center crowd.