Box Score Box score

POMONA, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team dropped a 71-50 decision to Cal Poly Pomona to open its first CCAA road trip of the season on Thursday at Kellogg Gym. Despite a career night from sophomore Brianna Terrance, the Pioneers (4-8, 1-5 CCAA) struggled in the first half and could not overcome a 18-point halftime deficit. 

Terrance led East Bay with 14 points, a new career high, on 6-for-10 shooting from the field. Terrance came off the bench and played 22 minutes, adding four rebounds and an assist in the loss. Freshman Micah Walker posted nine points and a season-high seven rebounds, which led the Pioneers on the glass. Marlene MacMIllan, Hege Blikra and Cassie Coble each notched six points, while Lauren Lucchesi pulled down six rebounds. 

Cal State East Bay struggled to find its shooting touch, knocking down just 29.1 percent of its attempts from the field, its lowest percentage since Dec. 2. The Pioneers did pick things up in the second frame, going 3-for-8 from three-point range in the half, but again could not convert from the charity stripe, where they shot just 63.6 percent for the game. East Bay also turned the ball over 22 times and were out-rebounded by 15. 

Megan Ford's 18-point, 16-rebound double-double led all players in both categories for Cal Poly Pomona. Charlene Popoff and Mian Dingle joined Ford in double figures for the Broncos, posting 14 and 12 points, respectively. Cal Poly Pomona had the hot hand on the night, knocking down 45.1 percent of its shots and scoring 24 points from the foul line. 

The Broncos never trailed in the game, jumping out to an early 10-point lead midway through the first half thanks to Ford and Popoff contributing 13 of their first 17 points. Though the Pioneers held Cal Poly Pomona's lead under 20 nearly to the break, the Broncos still led by 18, 37-19, at halftime. 

Cal State East Bay opened the second half with threes from Blikra and Lucchesi, cutting the Bronco lead to less than 15 for the first time since the 5:46 mark in the first half. The two buckets from downtown kicked off a 9-6 run for the Pioneers that brought them within 12, 43-31, with 17:14 to play. The two teams then traded baskets for the next four minutes, with East Bay trailing 51-37 at the 13:18 mark. The Broncos pulled away, however, going on a 19-11 run to push the lead to 22 points with less than a minute to play, sealing the victory.

Cal State East Bay returns to action on Saturday, as it travels to SF State for the first installment of the Battle of the Bay this season. The Pioneers and Gators are set for a 5:30 p.m. tip at SF State's Main Gym.