SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay played stifling defense over the final 10 minutes and senior guard Aubri Smith (Buena HS/Ventura College) made the biggest shot of the Otter season to lead CSUMB to a 50–49 win over CCAA contender Cal Poly Pomona Saturday night in The Kelp Bed.

Cal Poly began the fourth quarter leading by 10, but the Otter defense put the clamps down, holding the Broncos to a lone Priscilla Brooks free throw over the first 7:22 of the period. The Otters chiseled away at the deficit, first tying the game on a Jordana Price (Seattle/Inglemoor HS) fastbreak layup before taking their first lead before taking the lead two possession later on a long Smith jumper.

That sequence set up a fantastic finish in which the lead changed hands four times in the final 95 seconds. Chelsea Waddy–Blow gave Pomona both of its leads, first at 47–46 on a traditional 3–point play with 1:35 remaining and later at 49–48 on a short jumper with 19.9 seconds left.

All the last shot did was set Smith up to be the heroine. CSUMB inbounded the ball to her and she dribbled near the center circle before working off an Alexa Sperling (Clovis/Buchanan HS) screen with five second remaining.

Pomona switched the screen, leaving Waddy–Blow guarding Smith. Smith blew by her for the layup that won the game.

Price led a balanced Otter offense with 11 points. Waddy–Blow led the Broncos with 15.
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Priscilla Brooks' layup attempt bounced high off the rim as the horn sounded.

ENDING THE STREAK… Saturday's win ended an 8–game Pomona win streak in the series. It was CSUMB's first win over the Broncos since a 73–59 victory in the opening game of the CCAA Tournament on Mar. 5, 2013.

KEATON'S REBOUND STREAK ENDS… Courtney Keaton saw her streak of double–digit rebounding games end at three, finishing with a game–high nine Saturday night. Nevertheless, she led the team in rebounding for the 18th time in 21 games this season.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Jordana Price 11; REBOUNDS: Courtney Keaton 9; ASSISTS: Aubri Smith 4; BLOCKS: Courtney Keaton/Alexa Sperling 1; STEALS: Courtney Keaton/Brianna Tucker 2.

THE LAST WORD… "I'm really proud of how the team responded and refocused after last night's game. We started the fourth quarter down 10 and we played great defense and made big shots. So proud of them for staying together and making a comeback and keeping their composure all the way through the finish." – CSUMB Head Coach Kerri Nakamoto

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters hit the road for a pair of CCAA doubleheaders next week, starting with a Thursday night (Feb. 1) meeting at Chico State. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m. as the opener of men's/women's doubleheader action.