Box Score

POMONA -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team threw a scare into another of the California Collegiate Athletic Association's top teams, but came up empty down the stretch.

The Broncos sliced a 13-point second-half deficit down to four points with less than three minutes remaining, but ultimately fell to Cal Poly Pomona, 61-53, Saturday night in Kellogg Gym. Cal State L.A. (3-11, 1-8 CCAA) lost its fourth straight game, but battled the Broncos (11-2, 8-1 CCAA) all the way to the end.

Brionna Baker led three Golden Eagles in double figures with 13 points and six rebounds. Jazzi Johnson continued her torrid shooting and also scored 13 points on a 5-of-7 performance before fouling out. Shatori Dearman also had a strong game with 12 points and five rebounds.

Stephisha Walton had 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead Cal Poly Pomona, while Reyana Colson added 20 points and seven rebounds.

Cal State L.A. had a strong defensive effort and limited Cal Poly Pomona to just 34 percent shooting, including 27.6 percent in the second half. Cal State L.A. struggled, though, against Cal Poly Pomona's defense and shot just 35.7 percent for the game.

Cal Poly Pomona had a 43-36 rebounding edge and forced Cal State L.A. into 16 turnovers while committing only 12. The biggest difference of the game came at the free-throw line, where the Broncos were 24-of-29 (82.8 percent) and the Golden Eagles were 12-of-19 (63.2 percent).

The Golden Eagles led early, 10-8, after a basket by Dearman, but the Broncos took charge and built leads as large as seven points in the opening half before settling for a 29-24 lead at halftime.

The Broncos then opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 37-24 lead with 18 minutes to go. Cal State L.A., though, scored the next seven points to close to within 37-31 following a basket by Kelli McClintick. Cal Poly Pomona opened up a 10-point lead, 53-43, with five minutes left, but a basket by Baker, two free throws by Baker and a layup by Johnson cut the margin to 53-49 with 2:51 to go.

Cal Poly Pomona, though, then held the Golden Eagles scoreless until a pair of free throws by Baker with 23 seconds left to put away the game.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a road game at Chico State.