Cal Poly Pomona puts finishing touches on 18^th CCAA title

SAN FRANCISCO -- The CCAA women's basketball championship will remain in Pomona.

Cal Poly Pomona put the finishing touches on its 18^th CCAA title - and third straight - with a 67-59 victory Saturday night over San Francisco State. The Broncos (23-4, 19-3) capture the title by one game over second-place Cal State Bakersfield, which also won Saturday night. During its three-year championship run, the Broncos have a 58-6 record in CCAA play.

They won this title despite numerous injuries, including a knee injury that sidelined All-America center Aprile Powell (So., Santa Ana, Century HS) earlier in the season and a season-ending injury to standout guard Anna James (Jr., Orangevale, Casa Roble HS). Only newcomer Leah Whatley (Sr., Suisun, Tartleton State) started all 27 regular-season games for the Broncos, who are ranked second nationally.

The defending NCAA Division II champions will enter the playoffs as the top seed from the West Region. The playoff field will be announced on Sunday evening and the Broncos are expected to host the regional.

"This was definitely the most difficult one; it was very hard because we had some serious challenges," said Cal Poly Pomona head coach Paul Thomas. "To win this title with all the adversity we've gone through says volumes about this team's character."

The championship is the fifth in Thomas' eight years as Cal Poly Pomona's head coach and they have come in the past six years.

Burgundie Porter (Sr., San Dimas, San Dimas HS) led the Broncos with 19 points, while Whatley, the hero of Friday's win over Sonoma State, had 14 points. McIntosh, who moved into second place on the all-time Cal Poly Pomona scoring list on Friday, also had 14 points.

Powell added 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Salma Rasheed (So., Walnut, Walnut HS) had five points and five assists.

The Broncos, who won by one point against Sonoma State on Friday night on a basket by Whatley, found themselves in another struggle Saturday. Cal Poly Pomona made only seven first-half baskets and trailed at halftime, 27-25. The Broncos finally took the lead for good, 49-47, on a 3-pointer by Whatley with 8:29 left. That basket started a 12-0 run that soon became a 16-2 spurt and gave the Broncos some breathing room. Cal Poly Pomona had a 13-point lead with 3:03 left, had it cut to six points and then eventually won by eight points.

The Broncos end the regular season on a four-game winning streak.

Leah Whatley 14, Burgundie Porter 19, Lauri McIntosh 14, Marisa Lattin 3, Aprile Powell 10, Salma Rasheed 5, Margot Richards 2.

Jessica McKimmie 10, Kelley Kruger 21, Eleanor Ecoffey 2, Jennifer Kutz 6, Samantha Trone 11, Stacy Delfosse 3, Renee Jimenez 5, Audra-jo Johnson 1.

Halftime score: San Francisco State, 27-25.