POMONA, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield women's basketball team raced to an early lead and never trailed in an 81–71 win over Cal Poly Pomona Friday night at Kellogg Gym.
The Roadrunners have played some epic battles against the five–time NCAA Champions in this building, but the Broncos are rebuilding this season and Friday night's outcome was never in doubt.
Bakersfield (11-6 8-2 CCAA) jumped out to a 15-point lead at the half thanks to the continued strong play of freshman forward Florida Siaosi (Hesperia/Sultana HS), who scored 12 of her career-high 20 points in the half. She just missed completing the first-half double-double with nine rebounds. She grabbed her 10th rebound in the second half.
The Roadrunners also got a strong game from senior forward Rhonda Johnson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Santa Monica CC) who poured in a season-high 22 points. Sophomore guard Krista Arase (Alhambra/Keppel HS) just missed her first career double-double with nine points and 10 assists.
Bakersfield opened its first double-digit lead at 17-7 on a Johnson layup with 10:49 remaining in the first half. The Roadrunners led by as many as 20 in the second half before a late Cal Poly run made the final margin a more respectable 10 points.
Ally Smith led five Cal Poly (4-11, 3-7) players in double figures with 18 points.
Bakersfield concludes its brief two-game road trip Saturday night at Cal State San Bernardino.
CS BAKERSFIELD (11–6, 8–2 CCAA): Rhondi Naff 3-4 0-0 8; Florida Siaosi 8-11 4-7 20; Jessi Loring 2-8 0-0 4; Kelley Tarver 1-7 5-6 8; Krista Arase 2-6 4-4 10; Tiffany Belt 0-0 0-0 0; Katherine Smith 2-4 1-1 5; Christine Kepenekian 2-3 0-0 5; Naomi Johnson 0-0 0-0 0; Kelly Blair 0-2 0-0 0; Rhonda Johnson 9-13 4-4 22. TOTALS: 29-58 18-22 81.
CAL POLY POMONA (4–11, 3–7 CCAA): Vanessa Dominguez 4-8 2-2 10; Ally Smith 7-12 1-2 18; Porsché Kirksey 5-6 0-2 10; Jessica Hopkins 2-7 7-10 11; Rachel Gatdula 0-2 2-2 2; Ashley Moody 7-11 1-2 15; Natasha Reed 1-2 0-0 2; Cassey Brick 0-0 0-0 0; Lauren Kitaguchi 0-2 1-2 1; Randi Hicks 1-1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 27-51 14-22 71.
HALFTIME: CSUB 40–25. 3-PT. FG: CSUB 5-11 (Naff 2-2, Kepenekian 1-1, Arase 1-3, Tarver 1-4, Blair 0-1); CPP 3-10 (Smith 3-5, Moody 0-1, Kitaguchi 0-1, Hopkins 0-1, Gatdual 0-2). REBOUNDS: CSUB 27 (Siaosi 10); CPP 30 (Kirksey 7). ASSISTS: CSUB 24 (Arase 10); CPP 16 (Hopkins 4). TURNOVERS: CSUB 20, CPP 27. BLOCKS: CSUB 1 (R. Johnson); CPP 0. STEALS: CSUB 14 (Siaosi, Arase 4); CPP 7 (Dominguez, Kirksey 3) TECHNICALS: Cal Poly Head Coach. FOULED OUT: CSUB (Smith). OFFICIALS: Lozano, Kutas, Mason. ATTN: 547.
