PLNU Athletics

SAN DIEGO - The season opener was definitely a struggle for both the Point Loma and Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball teams, but it was the Sea Lions that managed to put together more quality offensive possessions down the stretch to earn a 61-57 victory over CPP in the PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge. (Nov. 11)
 
Roya Rustamzada registered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. She had 11 of the Sea Lions' 25 defensive rebounds. Alex Brunk added a team-leading 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and Madison West also chipped in with 10 points. Chelsea Waddy-Blow had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead Cal Poly Pomona.
 
The Broncos were held to just 27 percent shooting in the game by a strong Sea Lions' defense, however, they followed each of those misses and dominated the boards. CPP outrebounded PLNU 58-31, and 26-6 on the offensive glass. This all led to Cal Poly Pomona outscoring PLNU 23-3 on second chance points to allow them to stay in the game until the final seconds.
 
The first three quarters both teams struggled to make a shot, but the Sea Lions' experience came through late to grind out the win. PLNU faced its largest deficit of the game at 44-41 with 7:05 left before putting on an 11-2 run to turn the deficit into a six-point lead. But CPP did not go away and cut the Sea Lions' lead to 58-56 with 43 seconds on a jumper by Jordyn Shane. PLNU answered with Rustamzada finding Kassidy Gengenbacher late in the shot clock for a knockdown 3-pointer. CPP was still holding out hope for a comeback with 7.7 seconds on the clock, but Rustamzada made a very intelligent move and got the ball in the backcourt and kept it away from her defender without ever crossing half court as the time expired.
 
Point Loma will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 12 against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the final game of the 2016 PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge.