SAN DIEGO – With a back-and-forth battle in which neither team held a double-digit lead, the Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball dropped a narrow 61-57 result in the season opener Friday at Point Loma.
It marked the start of a two-day CCAA/PacWest Challenge hosted by the Sea Lions in San Diego. On Saturday, the Broncos (0-1) will take on Azusa Pacific at 4 p.m.
CPP dominated the rebounding category on Friday, grabbing 58 boards as compared to Point Loma's 31. Three Broncos nearly earned double-double performances, including junior
Chelsea Waddy-Blow with 17 points and nine rebounds in her CPP debut.
Also starring for the Broncos was junior
Priscilla Brooks, who contributed a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with eight points. Another third-year,
Jordan Kimbrough, added 10 rebounds with eight points.
Jackie Ricketson led the team in assists with four.
Neither team shined at the free throw line but the Sea Lions managed to outshoot CPP from the floor, connecting on 44.1 percent of their attempts.
Kerianne Noonan gave the Broncos a 21-19 lead late in the second quarter after knocking down a three-pointer. The teams traded baskets and then a layup from Waddy-Blow brought the score to 23-23 heading into halftime.
Point Loma carried a one-point edge going into the fourth and final quarter. Waddy-Blow knocked down a jumper to return the lead to CPP and the battle continued.
After building up a modest lead in the final minutes, the Sea Lions got a three-pointer at the 19-second mark to put the game just out of reach for the Broncos.
