Throughout the season, two things have consistently hurt Cal Poly Women’s Basketball: slow starts and turning the ball over.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, both of these issues showed up once again, but this time in the biggest game of their season.
Cal Poly dropped the quarter-final of the Big West tournament against UC Davis on March 14 in Henderson, Nevada, by a final score of 56-48.
The Mustangs, averaging 19 turnovers per game in the regular season, recorded 20 in this one and shot an overall 27.4% from the field.
The Dollar Loan Center’s lights seemed bright for both teams out of the gate. Halfway through the first quarter, however, the game had only seen three made baskets, and both teams combined for seven turnovers.
The Aggies began to find some momentum to close out the quarter and, after a 9-3 run, found themselves up 13-6.
The Mustangs would continue to struggle on both sides in the second quarter, and it seemed that with every shot that did fall, the Aggies would respond with one of their own.
Down 28-18 heading into halftime, Cal Poly was in dire need of a spark, with the team’s two leading scorers, Annika Shah and Natalia Ackerman, combining for a mere five total first-half points.
Graduate student Ania McNicholas and freshman Mary Carter helped get the offense going out of the break, but once again, the Mustangs failed to find a rhythm.
With 1:09 remaining in the third, it seemed like Cal Poly was starting to find something. Carter had just scored eight consecutive points, and the lead had been lowered to single figures.
Almost as soon as they seemed to be finding this new life, it was immediately pulled back away.
Nya Epps of UC Davis hit a tough corner three as she was fouled, and then added on a free throw to extend the Aggie lead to 13.
The Mustangs were able to defeat UC Davis in the two prior match-ups this season, but heading into the fourth down 30-41, winning the third straight would be an uphill battle.
With 2:47 to go in the fourth, Cal Poly found themselves within striking distance after two free throws from Ackerman. The lead was now only at six points, but time was not on their side.
It got all the way down to four points with 31 seconds left in play, but clutch free-throw shooting for Davis would ultimately put the Mustangs away and effectively end their season.
Despite the loss, there are many positives Cal Poly Women’s Basketball can take away from their year.
Only in year two of head coach Shanele Stires’ tenure, the program seems to be trending in a positive direction. They were able to take home a 17-13 overall record, while also recording 13 in-conference wins.
Projected to finish 8th in the Big West Coaches poll heading into the season, the team clearly exceeded those expectations with a 4th place finish heading into the tournament.
The Mustangs will be an interesting team to watch next year, and key figures such as Shah, Carter, Sydney Bourland, Sierra Lichtie, and Sidney Richards are all set to return.