Complete Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Ca. (Dec. 20) ­ Seniors Carli Grant and Brittney Kroon both posted double-doubles as Seattle Pacific held off Cal Poly Pomona 76-74 in the opening game of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Tuesday night on the Cal State Bakersfield campus. Seattle Pacific (6-2), ranked No. 10 in the NCAA II Coaches Poll, dominated inside the paint for its second straight victory and first in three tries against an opponent out of the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Kroon (6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) and Grant (5-11, Spokane, Wa./Valley Christian) poured in 12 points each as four Falcons scored in double figures. Kroon also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and blocked five shots. Grant hauled in 10 rebounds, six on the offensive glass, as SPU handed the Broncos (3-4) their third straight loss and fourth in the past five contests.

The Falcons held the lead throughout all but the first two minutes of the game, but Pomona made it interesting down to the final whistle. The Falcons led by five with 1:07 left in the game, but Pomona pulled to within one with 27 seconds remaining without allowing SPU a shot. Pomona got another stop, but could not convert on the offensive end. Smith then sank 1-of-2 free throws with one second remaining as Seattle Pacific held on for the win.

Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) led all players with 21 points and seven assists in the victory. Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) added 12 points and four assists.

Ashley Mood led the Broncos with 18 points. Ally Smith added 16 points and nine rebounds. Alexis Wilson chipped in 13 points and seven boards, and Shanika Perkins scored 10 points in 32 minutes off the bench.

The Broncos scored two early baskets to take a 4-2 lead, but Kroon scored a basket, and Poe hit a free throw to give SPU the lead for good just two minutes into the game. That sparked an 11-0 run as the Falcons jumped out to a nine-point advantage.

Seattle Pacific pushed its lead to 13, its largest of the game, with 7:31 left in the half, but Pomona closed the gap to just four points at the break.

The Falcons scored seven unanswered points early in the second half to get the lead back to double figures and led by 10 with 5:40 remaining. Perkins hit a three pointer, and Moody scored in the post to cut the deficit to one for Pomona with 2:03 left in the contest.

Grant hit a pair of free throws and Poe hit a jumper to put SPU back up by five with just over a minute left to play.

A strong three-point shooting team, the Falcons attempted just six three pointers but dominated inside, outscoring the Broncos 48-28 in the paint. SPU's previous season low in attempts from behind the arc was 11. The Falcons also controlled the tempo of the game with a 24-0 advantage in fast-break points.

The Falcons face tournament host Cal State Bakersfield tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 76, CAL POLY POMONA 74
CAL POLY POMONA (3-4) MOODY, Ashley 7-11 4-6 18; SMITH, Ally 8-20 0-0 16; WILSON, Alexis 4-13 5-6 13; PERKINS, Shanika 3-6 2-2 10; ANDERSON, Unique 3-6 0-0 6; FERGUSON, Khiara 1-2 2-2 4; BLEVINS, DeJa 1-6 2-4 4; KIRKSEY, Porsche 1-3 0-4 2; KITAGUCHI, Lauren 0-0 1-1 1; GATDULA, Rachel 0-0 0-0 0; PESE, Christina 0-0 0-0 0; HOPKINS, Jessica 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-68 16 25 74.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (6-2) Poe,Jenny 9-14 3-5 21; Wood,Mandy 6-13 0-0 12; Kroon,Brittney 5-12 2-5 12; Grant,Carli 4-9 4-6 12; Fielding,Autumn 4-5 0-0 9; Hill,Kelsey 3-7 0-0 6; Hollands,Jackie 0-0 2-2 2; Christensen,Beth 1-4 0-0 2; Strand,Rachel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-64 11-18 76.

Cal Poly Pomona............... 36 38 - 74 
Seattle Pacific............... 40 36 - 76 

3-point goals-Cal Poly Pomona 2-5 (PERKINS, Shanika 2-3; BLEVINS, DeJa 0-1; HOPKINS, Jessica 0-1), Seattle Pacific 1-6 (Fielding,Autumn 1-2; Wood,Mandy 0-3; Poe,Jenny 0-1). Fouled out--Cal Poly Pomona-None, Seattle Pacific-None. Rebounds-Cal Poly Pomona 39 (SMITH, Ally 9), Seattle Pacific 42 (Kroon,Brittney 12). Assists-Cal Poly Pomona 9 (ANDERSON, Unique 3), Seattle Pacific 26 (Poe,Jenny 7). Total fouls-Cal Poly Pomona 16, Seattle Pacific 20.