In a crucial game for Big West Tournament seeding, Cal Poly Women’s Basketball overcame Cal State Bakersfield 74-56 and are now positioned in third place in the conference.
The top four teams in the Big West receive a first-round bye in the Big West Tournament. Coming into Saturday’s game, the Mustangs (16-11, 12-6 Big West) were in a three-way tie, but their double-digit win over the Roadrunners (8-20, 5-14 Big West) slots them into third place with two regular season games remaining.
Cal Poly relied on their two leading scorers in Saturday’s matchup, with senior forward Natalia Ackerman recording 20 points and 11 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season and fourth in a row while junior guard Annika Shah hit four threes en route to 18 points.
Ackerman is first in the Big West in both field goal percentage and blocks and second in rebounds. Shah is first in the conference in three-point field goal percentage.
Turnovers have been an issue all season for the Mustangs, and in their previous game against UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly recorded a season-low seven turnovers. The Mustangs were not able to keep turnover numbers down against the Roadrunners, as they had 20. However, they did win the turnover battle as they forced 22 turnovers.
In the rebounding battle, the Mustangs outrebounded Bakersfield by 14, including a 12-3 advantage on the offensive glass.
After a slow start in the first quarter, the Mustangs went down 14-10 to end the first. Cal Poly outscored the Roadrunners 24-4 in the second quarter to take a massive lead going into halftime. Bakersfield was unable to score for the first seven minutes of the quarter, giving the Mustangs a 34-18 lead.
Bakersfield was never able to bring it back within single digits, and the Mustangs would secure the victory.
The last two games of the regular season for the Mustangs will be at Mott Athletic Center with the first game coming on Thursday as the two seed UC Irvine will come into town.