Comeback Bid Falls Shorts Against Chico State, Ha Ties Single Season Three-Point Record
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team orchestrated an impressive comeback in the second half of Friday's CCAA semifinal game against Chico State, but it wasn't enough for the win as they ultimately lost by a score of 74-80. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 20-9 on the season and await the results of Sunday's selection show to see if they'll get a shot to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
The Broncos got out to a slow start, trailing 12-0 in the opening three minutes. Breanne Ha got CPP on the board with a trey at the 6:45 mark, tying the single season record for most three-point field goals in a season. CPP would finish the first quarter down 28-13 after the first 10 minutes of play.
They would continue to struggle finding the basket in the second quarter, being outscored 17-12. The Green & Gold shot just 32 percent from the floor in the first half, while also going 1-for-11 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Chico State shot above 50 percent from both the floor and three-point range throughout the entire first half.
The Wildcats added on to their lead in the third quarter, reaching as high as 27 with 1:12 to go. However, Cal Poly Pomona flipped the script in the fourth, outscoring Chico State 33-15 in the final 10 minutes of play. This impressive surge in scoring was led by Jeanette Fine, who made 16 of her team-leading 24 points in the final quarter alone. Not surprisingly, freshman Sydney Nelson also scored in double figures at 22, the 25th time she has done so in her first 28 collegiate games. Nelson also led the team with nine boards while playing all 40 minutes.
In the end, the Broncos' comeback bid fell short by six points, losing by a final score of 74-80 and eliminating them from the CCAA Tournament. The Broncos resilient effort outscored the Wildcats in bench points (35 to 18) and on points inside the paint (42 to 18).
Record Watch
Breanne Ha etched her name into the record book on Friday afternoon, making her 71st three-point field goal of the season to tie the Cal Poly Pomona single season record – Anna James also making 71 during the 2000-01 season. This shot also moved Ha into second place on the career three-point list with 169, as she now only trails James (1999-03) at 215.
Postgame Interview
Up Next
The Broncos now turn their attention to the NCAA Selection Show taking place this Sunday, March 10th, at 7:30 PM on NCAA.com. If their name is called as an at-large bid, it will be their 29th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are now 33-30 all-time against Chico State. They are also 1-4 against Chico State in the CCAA Tournament.
- Danelle Bishop is now 246-131 (.654) as head coach of the Broncos. This includes a 10-10 record in CCAA Tournament play since the 2010-11 season.
- CPP has made 27 CCAA Tournament appearances in their history - there have only ever been 28 CCAA Tournaments in the history of the conference.
- The Broncos have claimed 11 CCAA Tournament titles, the most recent coming in 2010-11 in Bishop's first season as head coach.
- They now own an all-time record of 32-16 in the tournament, including 8-6 in the quarterfinals, 13-8 in the semifinals, and 11-2 in the finals.
- This is their fifth time being the #3 seed since 2007-08, owning a record of 2-5 as the #3 seed.
Latest Women's Basketball
- CCAA Joins FloSports in Historic Media Rights AgreementFloSports, a leading global sports media company, and the CCAA, the most successful NCAA Division II conference with 156 National Championships, have entered into an exclusive multi-year, seven-figure media rights agreement to begin this Fall.
- Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Tyler Frierson to Speak at WBCA ConventionCal Poly Pomona women's basketball assistant coach Tyler Frierson will be speaking at the WBCA convention in Cleveland, Ohio this week.
- Kalaya Buggs Earns All-America HonorsATLANTA – Cal Poly Pomona junior Kalaya Buggs was named an All-America Honorable Mention on Thursday, it was announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Buggs was one of 40 players in the country, and one of five players in the West Region, to receive the honor.
- Ha Breaks Three-Point Record, Season Ends in Regional QuarterfinalsAZUSA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team fell to No. 16 Western Washington on Friday afternoon by a final score of 61-66, eliminating CPP from the NCAA Tournament and ending their 2023-24 campaign with a 20-10 overall record. This season was the 32nd time the Broncos have reached the 20-win mark in their 49-year history.
- Fine, Buggs, Nelson, Ha Among Top Players to Watch For in NCAA West RegionalPOMONA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team features some prominent offensive threats in the upcoming NCAA West Regional starting this Friday, March 15th. The Broncos are set to take on the Vikings of Western Washington in the first game of the tournament at 12:00 PM in Azusa.
- Women’s Basketball Headed to NCAA Tournament for the 29th Time in Program HistoryINDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – For the 29th time in program history, Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball will be competing in the NCAA Tournament. After putting together an impressive 20-9 record, including finishing third in the CCAA with a 15-7 conference record, the Broncos were seeded No. 6 in the West Region.
