Mustang forward Sierra Campisano had a 21-point, 13-rebound effort for Cal Poly on Friday, but Seattle U connected on nine 3-pointers, lifting the Redhawk women’s basketball team to a fourth straight win, 72-49 in Mott Athletics Center.
Courtney Murphy, who came into the game No. 10 in the nation in average made 3s per game (3.4), went 6-of-12 from behind the arc (adding a 1-for-2 afternoon inside the 3-point line) on the way to a team-high 20 points.
Also for Seattle — which avenged a 60-50 loss to Cal Poly a year ago in the Pacific Northwest — the WAC’s second-leading scorer, Kamira Sanders, added 15 points.
Cal Poly took a 5-2 lead thanks to a Hannah Peterson 3-pointer 2 minutes & 18 seconds from the opening tip, but Sanders answered with a 3 on the next possession to tie the game, starting a quick 7-0 run which regained the lead for Seattle.
The Mustangs would fight back, tying the game at 9-9 and 14-14 (each via Campisano jumpers), but the Redhawks never let Cal Poly move back in front from there, carrying an 18-16 lead into the second quarter before scoring the first 10 points of the period to take a 28-16 advantage 4:48 before the break. A Murphy 3 gave Seattle (6-6) its largest lead prior to intermission, 34-18, with 3:02 remaining in the half.
Returning to the floor trailing 34-22, Cal Poly (2-7) twice closed the deficit to 10 in the third, as a Campisano basket in the key and a drive by Malia Holt for a layup cut the gap to 38-28 and 40-30. The Redhawks allowed it to get no closer, however, as a 3 by Sarah Rahon capped a 7-0 run making matters 47-30.
Murphy sank her sixth and final 3 of the day with 6:43 left, establishing the game’s largest lead, 59-33. Cal Poly drew within a 20-point deficit at three moments afterward.
Campisano was just one rebound back of her career-high 14 boards (at Pepperdine earlier this season). She also had two blocks.
Meanwhile Mustang point guard Abbey Ellis had 10 points and nine rebounds, and forward Alicia Roufosse was within shouting distance of a third consecutive double-double, finishing with six points & nine rebounds.
Following the holiday break, the Mustangs visit Nevada on Saturday, Dec. 28 in Lawlor Events Center. Mountain West TV will broadcast from Reno, with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
-Provided by Cal Poly
