Cal Poly outlasts SPU, reaches Sweet 16

ANCHORAGE – Cal Poly Pomona's interior trio of Jada Blackwell, Mary Williams and Ashley Lovett delivered a dominating performance Saturday to help their team pull away for a 90-74 victory over Seattle Pacific in the NCAA Div. II Women's Basketball West Regional Championships semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The defending regional and 7th-seeded Broncos (21-8) got 21 points and a career-high 10 assists from senior center Blackwell as they outscored the 6th-seeded Falcons 31-8 over the final eight minutes.

Seattle Pacific, ranked No. 24 in the WBCA D-II Top 25 poll, got 23 points from senior guard Aubree Callen, who connected on 5 of 6 three-pointers, plus 16 points and five assists from senior point guard Suzanna Ohlsen.

The Broncos move on to play in Monday night's 7 p.m. ADT regional final against the winner of tonight's second semifinal between 5th-seeded Cal Baptist (25-6) and 8th-seeded Point Loma (20-11). This marks the Broncos' third 'Sweet 16' appearance in the last five seasons, including last year's run to the NCAA Semifinals.

Saturday's battle was a contrast in styles, with the Falcons nailing 11 of 27 three-pointers to hang on to the lead for much of the game. Junior forward Maddy Pflaumer gave SPU its only inside presence with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, but the Great Northwest Athletic Conference runners-up could not stop the Broncos' frontcourt on the other end.

Williams, a junior forward, finished with 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting, while Lovett accounted for 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 12 rebounds. Blackwell was a force passing and scoring, connecting on 9-of-15 shots and committing only one turnover.

Senior guard Ariel Marsh scored 14 of her 19 points in the second half and helped the Broncos clinch the game with 10-of-10 free-throw accuracy.

The game featured 22 lead changes and 10 ties.

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