SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.—Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) recorded her 24th 20+ scoring game of her career with 22 points, but Cal Poly (5-7) defeated CSU Bakersfield (10-4) 69-64 Saturday afternoon. Outland's 20+ total is the most of any active Western Athletic Conference women's basketball player.

CSUB made four of its six three-point field goal attempts to take a 16-6 with 14:07 to play in the first half. Cal Poly responded with a 19-4 run to take a 25-20 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the opening stanza. CSU Bakersfield got the lead back, 28-27, at final media timeout of first half. Beth Balbierz came off the bench to connect on three three-pointers in the final 2:02 of the first half to spark a 10-4 Cal Poly spurt and give the Mustangs a 37-32 halftime lead.  

The Roadrunners struggled against the Cal Poly zone defense. CSUB missed 14 of their first 20 field goal attempts in the first half, shooting 32.3% (10-of-31) in the first half. The Roadrunners committed 12 first half turnovers which were turned into 18 Mustang points.

“I know it appeared that we took too many three-pointers, but Cal Poly were leaving us open for some good looks,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall.

CSU Bakersfield opened the second half by scoring 11 of the first 14 points to earn a 43-40 lead. Led by Rachel Koehler who scored six straight, the Mustangs responded with a 14-4 run for a 54-47 advantage.  Cal Poly held the Roadrunners without a point for over three minutes before Outland made a short jumper.

Outland scored eight in a row to get the 'Runners to 54-51 when Balbierz sank a back to back three's from the right corner to put Cal Poly into a three-possession lead (60-51) with seven to play. Bakersfield made two field goals in a nine-minute span as the Mustangs push the lead to 14 into the final media timeout.

CSUB scored 13 of the next 15 points and climbed to within four on two occasions in the final 30 seconds, but that would be as close as the 'Runners would get as Cal Poly won for the fourth consecutive time in the all-time series.

“I am very happy how we competed and got back to within striking distance,” McCall said. “We're never going to give in and never going to give up. Our team worked very hard and responded well.”

Cal Poly broke a four-game losing streak which dated back to the start of December. The Mustangs held the Roadrunners to 33.3 shooting (21-of-63) for the game. CSUB was 9-of-33 from three-point range, compared to 44.4% (8-of-18) for the Mustangs.  

“We made nine, but there were a couple more that we probably could have hit. We didn't capitalize on those opportunities. We have to be able to make those shots if we expect to be the team that we want to be. Hats off to Cal Poly for the great learning experience.”

Cal Poly was led by Balbierz who had 15. Ariana Elegado scored 14 while Hannah Gilbert had 11 and a game high eight rebounds.. 'Runner point guard Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) recorded her fourth consecutive double-digit scoring game with 14 points. Brooklynn Hinkens (Sr., Lake Tapps, Wash., Auburn-Riverside HS) added 12 for the 'Runners.

CSUB returns home Tuesday night when the 'Runners host UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

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