# 1 Cal Poly Pomona overpowers Sonoma State, 89-78
POMONA¾ Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team keeps enjoying its time
in Kellogg Gym.
The No. 1-ranked Broncos won for the 20th straight
time at home, powering past Sonoma State, 89-78, Saturday night in Kellogg Gym.
The defending national champions built first-half leads as large as 15 points,
weathered some Sonoma State runs in the second half and then pulled away for a
89-78 victory.
Sophomore center Aprile Powell, a returning All-American,
scored 19 points to lead Cal Poly Pomona (13-2, 9-1), while junior guard Anna
James added 17 points, 12 in the second half. Lauri McIntosh, who went into the
weekend as the nation’s leading scorer, scored 15 points with six rebounds
before fouling out with five minutes left in the game.
Sonoma State (11-5, 7-4) got 19 points from Domenica Curran and
18 points from Tara Whiteside.
The Broncos started strongly, scoring the first eight points of
the game, all eight by McIntosh. Sonoma State managed to take a 17-14 lead, but
the Broncos went on a 19-5 run and led the rest of the way.
Cal Poly Pomona led 46-40 at halftime and extended its lead to
11 points early in the second half after the first of three 3-pointers in the
second half by James. The Cossacks sliced the deficit to just four points,
67-63, but James responded with a quick 3-pointer and to restore order.
McIntosh fouled out with the Broncos leading, 73-68, with 5:21 to go. A pair of
free throws by Burgundie Porter and two from Salma Rasheed boosted the lead
back up to nine points and the Broncos were never seriously threatened the rest
of the way.
Rasheed continued her fine play of late with 13 points and four
rebounds. McIntosh, who was constantly double-teamed by the Cossacks, had a
career-high six assists. Cal Poly Pomona forced 21 Sonoma State turnovers and
were even in rebounding, 37-37.
The Broncos will be at home again Wednesday in the first of two
consecutive games against Cal State San Bernardino.