Michaela VanderKlugt
Troy Makalena
76
Winner Cal Poly Pomona F-91
65
Concordia (CA) F-30199
Winner
Cal Poly Pomona F-91
76
Final
65
Concordia (CA) F-30199
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Cal Poly Pomona F-91 9 27 15 25 76
Concordia (CA) F-30199 18 16 12 19 65

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Spencer Stueve

Rebounding Edge Fuels Fast Start for Eagles

The Eagles women's basketball team took on the 2-1 Cal Poly Pomona Broncos on Wednesday night in search of their first win.  The game was close until the final minutes, with both teams making a series of runs.  The Eagles started off strong, only to falter, and then make another run.  Meanwhile the Broncos were relentless in their offensive attack, driving to the basket over and over, using their tremendous speed and quickness with the ball to get looks in the paint.

In the first quarter, it was all Concordia.  The Eagles defense held Cal Poly to just 15.8 percent from the field.  Kennedy Fulcher had a big start to the game, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds in the first quarter alone.  At the end of one, CUI led 18-9.

One of the early keys for the Eagles was their transition defense. 

"We stopped the ball early in transition," said Michaela Vanderklugt.  "Our two safeties were communicating…telling people where to go."

In the second, it was a different story.  The Broncos got on track offensively and shot 76.9 perfect from the floor.  Bronco guard Jordyn Shane finished the first half with 15 points, 13 of which came in the second period.  Still, the Eagles hung in.  With under 10 seconds remaining, Vanderklugt knocked in a three to tie the score, but Cal Poly came right back and scored at the buzzer to take a 36-34 lead at the halftime break.

The third quarter was competitive from start to finish.  While turnovers plagued the Eagles in the third, their defense was strong, and VanderKlugt continued to shoot well from the floor, leading CUI with seven in the quarter. 

Going into the fourth quarter, Cal Poly led CUI 51-46, but there was plenty of time for the Eagles to make their move.  In the fourth quarter, Katie Timmerman found her outside shooting stroke, leading the Eagles with eight points and knocking in two threes in the period.  VanderKlugt continued to play well, and Fulcher and Riley Friauf dominated on the boards.  The speed and athleticism of the Broncos was too much to overcome, however.  In the final minutes, the Broncos made one last run and separated from the Eagles.  When the game came to an end, Cal Poly won 76-65. 

"We're going in the right direction," said VanderKlugt.  "We just have to keep practicing, keep getting at it, keep going hard." 

Eagle Eye: VanderKlugt finished with a double double, tallying 18 points and 13 rebounds.  Timmerman finished with 15 points and was three-for-six from beyond the arc. Fulcher and Friauf combined for 25 points and 19 rebounds.

What's Next:  The Eagles take on Dominican University of California in San Rafael on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 5:30 pm.
 
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