Box Score | POMONA, Calif. - The fans in Kellogg Gym wanted to witness history Monday night and they got what they deserved.
Nationally-ranked Cal Poly Pomona defeated Montana State Billings, 75-68, to capture its second West Region title in the last four years to advance into the Elite Eight. BroncoAthletics.com coverage of Monday's game features a
photo gallery and
YouTube highlights.
The postseason moves to Erie, Pa., and the Broncos are now three wins away from securing their sixth national title in school history.
Up next for 18th-ranked CPP (25-6) is a Tuesday, March 25 matchup against the Atlantic Region champion Edinboro (27-5), featured at No. 25 nationally. Tipoff will be at 3 p.m. Pacific Time as the Elite Eight will be hosted by Gannon University at
Erie Insurance Arena. In following the Broncos, tag #NCAAD2Erie and download the iPhone app "Elite 8 D2W."
CPP will have the most distance to travel out of all the Elite Eight teams. Erie is 2,400 miles from Pomona. The Broncos certainly carry a history of success into the final stages of the postseason. CPP has 54 NCAA postseason victories in school history, the third-highest total in Division II history. No. 1-ranked East Region champion Bentley has the second-most wins at 56.
Saturday's regional championship game at Kellogg Gym featured four Broncos in double figures, including tournament Most Valuable Player
Jada Blackwell totaling 20 points and eight rebounds.
Ariel Marsh and
Ashley Lovett joined Blackwell on the All-Tournament Team as Marsh collected 19 points Saturday with an 8-for-8 effort at the line while Lovett recorded a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The Broncos and Yellowjackets played their hearts out and the game included seven lead changes. The two teams played smart basketball as they combined for just 13 turnovers, including a season-low six by CPP. For the second-straight game, the Broncos overcame a halftime deficit to capture a comeback win.
Both teams' offenses came out firing in Monday's title game, shooting near 50 percent through the opening half. CPP jumped out to a 10-point lead, 25-15, around the midway point, but the Yellowjackets bounced back with a 12-3 spurt to eventually tie the game up.
Blackwell knocked down a pair of threes early but took a rest later in the half after picking up two personal fouls. Kellogg Gym continued to buzz as
Ashley Lovett converted a three-point play and then the CPP defense forced a Yellowjackets' backcourt violation on the opposite end of the floor.
Blackwell picked up her second foul at the 8:21 mark with the Broncos leading 25-20. She exited the game and the Yellowjackets put together a 20-9 run to close out the half. That gave MSUB a 40-34 edge going into the break.
CPP had trailed by seven points on Saturday against Chico and once again on Monday, the Broncos didn't back away from the challenge of a minor deficit, even after Bobbi Knudsen - one of two MSUB players on the All-Tournament Team - knocked down a three to open the second-half scoring.
A
J.J. Judge three-pointer - No. 144 of her career - pulled the Broncos to within two and then a few minutes later, Blackwell dropped in a layup to give CPP the lead. That was a key basket in an 11-0 run for the Broncos as Marsh capped it off with a three-point play off a layup and free throw.
The Yellowjackets managed to work it back to a one-possession game at the 1:06 mark but Marsh provided clutch free throws down the stretch to keep MSUB at a distance. Marsh went 4-for-4 at the line during the final minute, raising her season free throw percentage to 81.8.
Now, the Broncos are among the Elite Eight. The season continues for CPP while Monday's title game was certainly one to savor.
Friday, March 14 | Regional Quarterfinal Round 