SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Cal Poly Pomona had another big test in front of it, taking on Cal State San Marcos – which is receiving votes in NCAA Division II – Saturday afternoon. The Broncos were on fire in the third quarter, shooting a staggering 71.4-percent from the floor, but couldn't overcome the Cougars in the 79-63 defeat.
 
The Broncos slide to 11-7 on the year, 7-5 in the CCAA, while the Cougars remain in first place in the conference standings at 14-3 overall and 9-3 in the CCAA.
 
Lauryn Catching led CPP with 15 points off the bench, shooting 6-for-8 in her 28 minutes of action. Kasey Smit followed with 10 points (5-for-11) and grabbed a team-high six rebounds, along with Sheridan Glover, to help the Broncos win the glass.
 
Dominique Dotson opened the game with a layup off a Smit assist in CPP's first possession of the game, 2-0. It started some back-and-forth action as the lead changed five times in the first 10 minutes of action.
 
CSUSM took a 16-11 advantage into the second quarter, however, and extended that lead to 30-21 at halftime after holding the Broncos to just a 15.4 shooting percentage in the period.
 
Coming out of the break determined to turn things around, the Broncos caught fire from the floor. CPP shot an impressive 71.4-percent from the field (10-for-14) in the third, hoping to chip away at the deficit.
 
With less than four minutes left in the third, Mylah Andrada knocked down a three before snatching a defensive board to keep CPP on the attack. It allowed Catching to bank in a jumper just outside the key, putting the Broncos within two possessions, 41-37.
 
The Broncos just couldn't seem to get more stops as CSUSM built back its double-digit lead with under 30 seconds left in the period, 52-41.
 
CSUSM kept firing and was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the fourth, along with a 57.1-percentage from the field, to run away with the game 79-63.
 
CPP remains on the road, but back closer to home as it heads to Cal State San Bernardino for a 5:30 p.m. tip next Saturday.