March 13, 2008
Box Score
Anaheim, Calif. - The Pacific women's basketball team offered a spirited effort, but the Tigers fell to Cal Poly, 79-76, in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 13.
The Tigers finished their season at 14-16, while Cal Poly moves to 13-18 and will face the No. 1 seeded UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the semifinals on Friday, Mar. 14.
Trailing 20-17 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half, the Tigers Pacific took over the game, scoring 28 of the next 34 points to build a 45-26 lead with three minutes left in the period. Sophomore Emma Head (San Diego, Calif.) led the Tiger charge with eight of her 14 points.
Cal Poly tossed in the final bucket of the half, as the Tigers took a 45-28 lead into the break. Pacific shot .433 (13-30) in the stanza, out-rebounded Cal Poly 27-to-18 and limited the Mustangs 12-of-36 (.333) shooting.
As Pacific controlled the first half, Cal Poly dictated the pace of the second frame. The Mustangs shot an impressive .630 (17-27) from the field in the second half.
Holding the Mustangs at bay for Pacific was the stellar play of senior Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Ore.), who tossed in 13 of her game-high 21 points in the second half. Despite Lavener's efforts, Pacific struggled from the field in the second period, shooting just .321 (9-28).
The Tigers 17-point advantage lasted until the Sparkle Anderson nailed a three-pointer with 1:11 left in the game to tie the score at 75-75. On Pacific's next possession, junior Janae Young (Sacramento, Calif.) hit one of two free throws to push the Tigers back in front, 76-75.
Unfortunately that was the last points the Tigers would score as Cal Poly took the game behind three free throws from Anderson and one by Rebecca Tratter.
Lavender's 21 was a season-high, while Head finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Young nabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and finished with six points.
Cal Poly was led by Anderson's 18 points and four assists. Tratter finished with 16 points off the bench for the Mustangs, Lisa McBride chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds, while center Kristina Santiago was the fourth Mustang in double digits with 11 points.
