Women’s hoops team split games

California Collegiate Athletic Association play tipped off for the Cal State East Bay women’s basketball team this past weekend, who finished the home stand 1-1 and are now 5-2 overall this season.

CSUEB lost to the 22nd ranked team in the country Cal Poly Pomona, 76-60 on Friday followed up by a victory over UC San Diego 74-57 on Saturday at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.

The Pioneers were dominated by the Broncos in the first half of Friday’s game finding themselves down by 13 points at the break.

“We didn’t have the size to battle down low,” CSUEB Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said. “The physical nature of the game played to (Cal Poly Pomona’s) strengths, not what we do well.”

The Pioneers managed to make it a game in the second half, led by senior guards for CSUEB, Stephanie Lopez and Micah Walker. The duo combined for 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals in the second half sparking the comeback.

The Broncos still managed to outscore the Pioneers 42-39 in the second half due in large part to senior forward Jada Blackwell who tallied a game-high 20 points in 24 minutes on the floor for Cal Poly Pomona.

CSUEB took the court on Saturday against the UC San Diego Tritons, making up for their poor performance on Friday. The Pioneers dominated the visiting Tritons and handily defeated them by a final of 74-57.

Lopez led the way again for CSUEB tallying 12 points in the triumph adding 11 rebounds and four assists as well.

Junior guard Mo Fegan was also impressive in the win for CSUEB gathering 12 points and five rebounds in just 21 minutes on the floor.

“We had a huge momentum shift when Mo hit a three and you could see an energy swing in our favor,” Barcomb said.

Junior Shannon Bland scored a total of 10 points and recorded six assists in the winning effort for the Pioneers.

“We need to play to our potential and play East Bay basketball,” Bland said. “We don’t need to play down to their level.”

The Pioneer defense was smothering all night holding the Tritons to 28 percent shooting from the field as well as from behind the three-point line.

Next up for the Pioneers is another CCAA matchup at home against the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters this week.

Tip off is at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.