POMONA, CALIF. (Dec. 28) -- Kerie Hughes (Jr., 5-6, Mt. Vernon, Wa./Mt. Vernon) registered a team-high 14 points as the No. 8-ranked Seattle Pacific University women's basketball fell victim to a second-half surge by No. 3-ranked Cal Poly Pomona, losing to the Broncos 76-71 at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Friday in Pomona.

Spurred by a hot-shooting Stephanie Urrutia (Jr., 5-9, Sunnyside, Wa./Sunnyside) who hit two three-pointers on her way to 10 points in the first half, the Falcons (1-1, 8-2) jumped out to a pair of 10-point leads over the Broncos (7-1). After the Broncos tied the game at the 10:18 mark, the Falcons went on a 10-run, capped by a Hughes three-pointer with under seven minutes remaining in the period. SPU entered the half with a comfortable nine-point lead.

The second-half quickly turned into a see-saw battle as the Broncos climbed back into the game on a 13-2 run to start the half. Lauri McIntosh led the Pomona comeback, scoring 22 of her game-high 30 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the second half.

Pomona gained their first lead of the game at the 12:07 mark and held it until under five minutes to play when the Falcons scored eight unanswered points to claim a 60-59 lead. SPU maintained command until the 1:53 mark when Pomona went on a 10-3 run to finish the game and escape the upset.

Hughes led four Falcons in double figures. Urrutia finished with 13, while Kristin Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) and Michelle Beaumont (Fr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) chipped in 11 and 10, respectively. Emily Faurholt (Fr., 5-11, Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick) had a game-high 11 rebounds for the Falcons.

McIntosh paced the Broncos with 30 points.

SPU - Faurholt 5, Poe 11, Hughes 14, Urrutia 13, Berglund 8, Hermanson 0, Beaumont 10, Lukkes 6, Cadotte 0, Gustafson 4.

CPP - Porter 12, McIntosh 30, Richards 7, Whatley 8, James 12, Drummond 0, Rasheed 4, Gardner 0, Kennedy 2, Reeder 0, Lattin 0, Powell 1.

Halftime - SPU 35, CPP 26