Broncos buck rival Toros in NCAA 1st Round

ANCHORAGE – Cal Poly Pomona forward Ashley Lovett recorded a double-double and guard Ariel Marsh provided clutch shooting in the late-going to lead the 7th-seeded Broncos to a 61-57 victory over 2nd-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first round of the NCAA Div. II Women's Basketball West Regional Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center on Friday.

The Broncos (20-8) got 12 points and 11 rebounds from Lovett as they avenged a pair of regular-season losses to their California Collegiate Athletic Association rivals.

The Toros (26-7) were led by 22 points, three assists and three steals from guard Breanne Garcia, but the L.A.-area squad shot just 31.1 percent from the field, including 5 of 23 from long range.

CSUDH – the CCAA Tournament champ and regular-season co-champ – erased a 31-24 halftime deficit with a 13-4 run to start the second half, going ahead 37-35 on Anandi Jimenez's free throw at the 15:08 mark.

Tied 41-41, Cal Poly forward Mary Williams gave her team the lead for good on a traditional three-point play with 10:26 remaining, and Marsh stretched it to a 50-43 advantage with a three-pointer three minutes later.

The Toros would cut their deficit to one or two points on five occasions, but the Broncos responded with a big basket each time. Marsh delivered a pair of daggers in the final two minutes, extending her team's lead to 59-55 on an 18-foot jumper with 1:56 left, then swishing the clinching free throws with 12 seconds on the clock.

Marsh finished with 14 points and four assists, while senior center Jada Blackwell chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds for the defending West Region champions.

The Broncos advance to Saturday's 5 p.m. ADT regional semifinal against 6th-seeded Seattle Pacific (22-6).

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