Box Score: Broncos 58, CSU Monterey Bay 49

POMONA – Defense and opportune offensive play were the differences Thursday night as Cal Poly Pomona won a vital game with playoff implications in its 58-49 victory over the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters in California Collegiate Athletic Association women's play. 

The Broncos, ranked sixth in this week's NCAA West Region poll, defeated the eighth-ranked Otters and avenged an earlier defeat in Seaside. Senior Stephisha Walton led the way with her eighth double-double of the season and 13th in her career with 13 points and 15 rebounds and teammate Megan Ford answered with 12 points and nine rebounds. 

The victory also puts CPP in the enviable position of potentially earning a share of the CCAA regular-season title. Should UC San Diego (22-3 overall, 18-3 CCAA) lose at home to Humboldt State on Friday and the Broncos defeat San Francisco State, CPP would earn a conference crown for the first time since 2002. 

The victory places CPP at 20-5 overall and 17-4 in the CCAA. It marks CPP's most victories in a season since 2004-05 – also the last season that the Broncos earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. 

“The last time we played (them), they got the job done on 3-point shooting and free throws,'' Broncos coach Scott Davis said. “We held them from the outside and they had troubles from the line tonight. 

“This was a crucial win for us. We remain in the hunt for a conference crown and you want to playing well down the stretch.'' 

The Otters, who average just less than seven 3-pointers a game, were just 6-of-21 from the stripe and struggled at the line going 5-of-15. 

CSUMB led only twice and that was inside the first 90 seconds of the game. The Broncos held the Otters to just six field goals in the opening 20 minutes and led by as many as 10 when senior Jessica Duran hit a jumper with 2:16 left and CPP up, 26-16. 

CPP stayed in command and led 42-32 on Walton's free throws with 6:52 left. 

After the Otters cut the lead to 42-36 on Helen Suarez' layup, freshman Jennifer Bryant stepped up big-time. The San Diego native hit a pair of 3-pointers in a minute and CPP extended its lead to 48-38 with 3:35 remaining. 

The Otters never got closer than six down the stretch. 

Broncos' leading scorer Reyana Colson was hampered with foul trouble and finished the night with nine points, but pulled down nine rebounds in 25 minutes of play. 

Junior La'kenya Simon-West earned the start for Davis' club and had eight points with four rebounds.

The Otters (17-8, 13-8) were led by Williams and Suarez, each with 11. 

BRONCO NOTES: Colson has now scored 1,204 points in her career and ranks 16th. She needs 16 points to surpass Anna James (1,218) and Carolyn Topf (1,219) for 14th on the all-time charts. Colson also ranks 5th all-time in free throw attempts (528) and 5th in FTs made (357)… The Broncos are 6-2 this season when Walton produces a double-double… It also was Walton's 22nd double-digit rebound effort in her two-year career.