SAN MARCOS, Calif. - In their 14th appearance in the CCAA finals, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos fell to the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros with a final score of 54-77, as the Toros claimed the CCAA title.
The Broncos started strong, with Kalaya Buggs putting the first two points on the board. Sydney Nelson followed suit, scoring a few more to keep the game within reach. Despite a strong start, the Toros quickly began to pull ahead, gaining a slight lead just a minute later. However, Buggs and Nelson kept the Broncos in the game, and by the end of the first quarter, the Broncos trailed 10-15.
As the second quarter began, the Toros attempted to extend their lead, but Breanne Ha came through with a three-pointer to keep the Broncos within striking distance. The teams exchanged baskets for a while, but with five minutes left in the half, the Toros pulled away with a nine-point lead. The Broncos struggled to find the basket, and the Toros continued to extend their lead. At halftime, the Broncos found themselves down 25-41. Nelson had contributed 12 points in the first half, while Mydrea Moore led the team with six rebounds.
Entering the second half, the Broncos knew they had a tough challenge ahead. In the opening minutes of the third quarter, Ha and Nelson worked to chip away at the Toros' lead. However, the Toros' offense remained efficient, and their rebounding game was on point, making it difficult for the Broncos to get back into rhythm. By the end of the third quarter, the Broncos were still trailing 38-57.
The Toros wasted no time extending their lead in the fourth quarter, further stifling the Broncos' attempts to close the gap. Despite some bench contributions, the Broncos couldn't generate enough offense to make a comeback. The Toros surged ahead and ultimately sealed the game with a 77-54 victory to secure the CCAA title.
Despite the tough loss, Sydney Nelson earned a well-deserved spot on the CCAA All-Tournament Team after leading the Broncos in scoring throughout the weekend, totaling 54 points. Mydrea Moore also had an impressive performance, contributing 10 rebounds in the game.
Up Next:
The regionally ranked Broncos await the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, March 9th at 7:30 PM PST.
Bronco Bits:
- The Broncos are 5-5 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills in CCAA Tournament history.
- Danelle Bishop is now 271-137 as head coach of the Broncos, including 210-93 in CCAA play. Including two previous stops at APU and CBU, Bishop is 408-222 all-time as a head coach.
- The Broncos have now made 28 of the 29 CCAA Tournaments ever hosted since 1985 (no conference tournament from 1999-2007).
- Breanne Ha is two three-pointers away from tying her school record for most three's in a season.
- Sydney Nelson is 63 points away from 1,000 career-points as a Bronco.
— Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (@cppbroncos) March 9, 2025
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