POMONA, Calif. – The NR/RV Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (10-2, 8-1 CCAA) outscored Cal Poly Pomona (4-9, 3-6 CCAA) 51-23 over the second half to secure an 80-50 conference victory on Thursday night at Kellogg Arena.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Akayla Hackson – 15 points | 5 rebounds | 3 steals | 3 assists
Sydney Buckley – 15 points | 5-of-9 FG | 7 assists | 3 steals
Jordan Vasquez – 13 points | 7 rebounds | 2 steals
Kelsey Forrester – 11 points | 3-of-6 3FG | 4 rebounds | 2 steals
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Broncos took a 2-0 lead, the Cougars answered with a 7-0 run.
• Four different Cougars scored the first nine points.
• CSUSM's defense held the Broncos scoreless (0-of-6) from behind the 3-point line in the opening 10 minutes.
• The Cougars held a 15-6 lead over CPP after the first quarter.
• Forrester hit a 3-pointer from the corner at the 7:04 mark of the second quarter to put the Cougars up 18-9.
• After a 3-of-7 performance at the free throw line in the first quarter, the Cougars regrouped and went 6-of-7 in the second quarter. The Broncos were just 1-of-2 in the entire first half.
• CPP put together a 10-3 run to close out the second quarter to cut CSUSM's lead to 29-27.  
• CPP's Monica Todd fast break layup at the 8:01 mark of the third quarter cut the Cougar lead to 32-31, but CSUSM responded with an 8-0 run sparked by a Kayden Korst 3-pointer.
• The Cougars went on an 16-6 run with Vasquez chipping in six to put CSUSM up 57-41 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
• CSUSM opened the fourth quarter with eight unanswered points to make it 65-41.
• The Cougars shot 62.5% (10-of-16) from the field and 40% (2-of-5) from behind the arc in the fourth quarter.

 
FAST BREAKS

• The Cougars held the CCAA-leading 3-point shooting Broncos to just 20% (4-of-20) from behind the arc.
• With the win, the Cougars extended their win streak to six games. 
• The Cougars' 30-point margin of victory was their most this season. The last time CSUSM won by 30 or more points was against Cal State Monterey Bay on Feb. 20, 2020. 
• CSUSM continued to dominate on fast breaks, scoring 26 points while relinquishing only six points to the Broncos.
• Half of CSUSM's points came from inside the paint while 27 points came off CPP turnovers.
• The Cougars held a slight 40-39 edge in rebounds but gave up 13 on the offensive side.
• CPP led only in the first minute of the game before CSUSM took over and never surrendered the lead for the remaining 39 minutes.
• CSUSM remains in second place in the CCAA standings behind Cal State East Bay (11-1, 6-0 CCAA). The Pioneers have only played two of their five scheduled games since the start of 2022 due to COVID protocols.
• Todd was the only Bronco to reach double figures with 12 points.
• The Broncos, the CCAA's worst free-throw shooting team, posted their third-best performance of the season at the charity stripe after going 8-of-12 (.667). 
• CSUSM is now 5-5 in the all-time series against the Broncos and the Cougars have extended their win streak to three.  

UP NEXT
The Cougars close out their two-week road trip on Saturday at Cal State San Bernardino. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.