By Leila Nikamal
POMONA, Calif. - The Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team returns home to challenge Cal State L.A. Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills for Saturday's Homecoming game.
The Broncos were ranked 7th in the first official NCAA Division II West Region rankings, released Wednesday morning.
Tipoff for both women's basketball games this weekend are set for 5:30 p.m. followed by men's basketball at 7:30 p.m.
Friday's game marks the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night where CPP honors those at Cal Poly Pomona that work tirelessly to support Bronco Athletics.
The last time the Broncos took on Cal State L.A., the Broncos won, 80-64. CPP outperformed CSULA in field goals and free throws. In that matchup, two Broncos collected double-digit points.
Saturday's Homecoming celebration will include live music, fireworks, baseball, carnival activities, a petting zoo, and much more.
Just prior to tipoff at the Homecoming game, the Broncos will honor their six seniors:
Mian Dingle,
Lauren Goecke,
Ariel Marsh,
Jada Blackwell,
Jordan Henry and
Ashley Lovett.
Dingle has totaled 443 points, 266 rebounds and 50 steals in her four years as a Bronco. Saturday will mark her 105th CPP career game. Dingle, a Kinesiology major, has been a regular on the CCAA All-Academic Team.
In her four years as a Bronco, Goecke has collected 401 points, 339 rebounds, 271 assists, 115 steals, and needs just 17 more assists to enter the top 10 on the program's all-time leaderboard. Goecke has earned a spot on the CCAA All-Academic Team in each of the last three years.
Last season, Marsh became just the ninth Bronco to receive the honor of being named an Academic All-American. She has also earned CCAA All-Academic, Academic Achievement and Hal Charnofsky awards for her academic success. Marsh ranks second in scoring and third in minutes in the CCAA. Nationally, she ranks fifth in free throw percentage this year and she currently leads the CPP all-time list in that category. Last month, she reached 1,000 points.
Two weeks ago, Blackwell also passed the 1,000-point mark. Blackwell ranks first in scoring, second in three-point percentage, fourth in blocks and seventh in rebounds in the CCAA. Last year, she earned CCAA and West Region Player of the Year and was named into the D-II All-Tournament Team.
Henry, an English major, has had two seasons as a Bronco and has knocked down 42.9 percent of her three-point shots. Last year, Henry was part of the CCAA All-Academic Team.
Lovett, a Liberal Studies major, ranks second in the CCAA for field goal percentage this year while ranking fifth in rebounds per game. Last year, Lovett earned All-CCAA honors and a West Region All-Tournament selection.
The first 750 fans to the Homecoming game will receive a Homecoming rally towel. All fans will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a six-burner grill. All students will also receive a raffle ticket at an opportunity for a halfcourt shot and prizes.
Postseason Picture
The top six CCAA teams will advance to the conference tournament to be held in Stockton from March 5 through March 7 and the Broncos have clinched a spot in that event. The NCAA Division II Tournament bracket will be unveiled on Sunday, March 8, with the top West Region squads earning spots.
