Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 20) – Kristin Poe hit the winning jumper with nine seconds left as the No. 9 Seattle Pacific women’s basketball team beat Cal Poly Pomona 79-78 in the final round of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Classic on Saturday night in Los Angeles. With the win, the Falcons (10-0) pushed their regular-season win streak to 43 straight games.

Poe’s shot capped a 9-4 run by SPU to end the game. Brittney Kroon’s blocked shot with 2 seconds to go snuffed the Broncos’ final scoring opportunity and dealt Cal Poly (6-1) its first loss.

Pomona held a four-point lead (74-70) with 2:31 to play when SPU’s Mandy Wood (So., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) hit a three and Kristin Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw) got a steal and basket to put the Falcons back up by one (75-74) with 1:27 left.

The teams traded baskets again, before Pomona’s Candice Allen made a jumper with 28 seconds to put her team up by one (78-77). The Falcons got the ball back and Poe hit the game-winner with nine seconds. SPU’s Brittney Kroon (So., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) preserved the win by blocking Pomona’s final shot attempt.

Wood, who was named to the all-tournament team, had 14 points to lead five Falcons in double figures. Valerie Gustafson (Sr., 6-0, Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) and Kroon each scored 12, Jenny Poe (So., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa./Enumclaw-Portland State) had 11 and Michelle Beaumont (Jr., 5-11, Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) added 10. Kristin Poe finished with nine points and three steals and Kroon blocked six shots. Gustafson and Amy Taylor (Jr., 5-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood-Oregon) fouled out with more than three minutes remaining.

In a battle of unbeatens, SPU and Pomona played it close in the first half with SPU leading 38-37 at halftime. In the second half, the Falcons took their largest lead of the game at 57-48 with 12:03 remaining. The Broncos stormed back with a 16-5 run to go ahead 64-62 at 5:41, setting up an exciting final five minutes in which there were four ties and seven lead changes.

SPU shot 46.7 percent for the game while holding the Broncos to 41.7 percent shooting. Pomona forced 29 Falcon turnovers, 17 off steals, but the Falcons outscored Cal Poly 24-0 outside the arc.

The Broncos, back-to-back NCAA II champions in 2001 and 2002, were led by Allen’s 32 points while teammate Brandi Fletcher scored 21 points.

The Falcons return home for a 19-day break then begin Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Jan. 8 at home vs. Western Washington.

SEATTLE PACIFIC – Wood 14, Gustafson 12, Kroon 12, J. Poe 11, Beaumont 10, K. Poe 9, Taylor 8, Hermanson 3, Smith 0, Duffin 0.

CAL POLY POMONA – Allen 32, Fletcher 21, Williams 8, Swanson-Cades 4, Wilson 4, Lattin 3, Perkins 2, Sumida 2, Ferguson 2, Beachem 0, Gatdula 0.

Halftime – SPU 38, Pomona 37