The Cal Poly women’s basketball team opened the ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic with a dud on Friday. Unable to get mid-range shots to fall and unable to contain Robert Morris’ balanced offensive attack, the Mustangs fell to the Colonials 66-50.

It was the first game Robert Morris had ever played in California, but it was the Mustangs who looked lost, shooting just 31 percent from the floor and turning the ball over 21 times. 

Lynn Leaupepe set the first half pace on Sunday afternoon against San Francisco. By Owen Main

After a day off on Saturday, Cal Poly faced San Francisco on Sunday and turned things around. After being held scoreless on Friday, Dynn Leaupepe scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds to go along with three steals in the win. Lynn Leaupepe, who led the team with 14 points in the first half, totaled 20 for the game to go along with six boards and a pair of steals. She was 10-10 from the free throw line. 

Starting at point guard for the injured Dye Stahley, Ayzhiana Basallo — a freshman from St. Ignatius in San Francisco — scored 16 points in 32 minutes while turning the ball over just twice. Basallo notched a team-high four assists against her hometown club.

With the win, Cal Poly ensured all three teams in the ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic went 1-1 over the weekend. The Mustangs’ record improved to 2-3 on the young season. This week, they host Division II Cal State Monterey Bay on Tuesday night at 5:00 pm in Mott Athletic Center. 

Photos below by Owen Main. 

To see more photos or to purchase photos, click here. If you just want to contribute to the cause, Venmo @Owen-Main or paypal owen@fansmanship.com.  

Mott Athletics Center will host women’s basketball games each of the three days following Thanksgiving as three teams will compete in a round-robin format in the ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic. 

Junior transfer Devin Stanback has made an immediate impact in the middle for Cal Poly this season. By Owen Main

On Thursday, Robert Morris will face Faith Mimnaugh’s host team. Like Cal Poly, Robert Morris of the Northeast Conference is 1-2 coming into the game. The Colonials will spend Thanksgiving Day on the Central Coast leading up to the Friday 2:00pm game. 

On Saturday, the Colonials will face San Francisco. Tip time is also 2:00pm. 

Sunday’s game brings Cal Poly back to face San Francisco for a noon tip-off. 

A senior-laden team, Cal Poly is led by fourth-year twins Dynn and Lynn Leaupepe. Lynn is averaging 19 points and 7.7 rebounds per game over Cal Poly’s first three, while Dynn averages 11 points and 4.3 rebounds. 

Devin Stanback (junior transfer from Pepperdine) has helped quickly, averaging 13 points per game. A stretch-four, Emily Anderson is fourth on the team in scoring in the young season at 8 points per game. 

Cal Poly’s roster features 10 upperclasmen and seven seniors and is led by Faith Mimnaugh, in her 21st season at Cal Poly. 

Photos below from November 16th game vs. Grand Canyon by Owen Main. To see more photos or to purchase photos, click here. If you just want to contribute to the cause, Venmo @Owen-Main or paypal owen@fansmanship.com. 

On Wednesday night, Cal Poly women’s basketball seniors Hannah Gilbert and Amanda Lovely finished their home careers with a 73-57 win over Cal State Fullerton at Mott Athletics Center. The duo combined for 23 points in the balanced Cal Poly scoring attack. 

Hannah Gilbert has been a solid four-year contributor in the post for Cal Poly. By Owen Main

The win moved Cal Poly to 7-8 in the Big West and, while they won’t likely be in the top five seeds, the Mustangs have proven they can compete with some of the best Big West schools.

With Gilbert’s four-year career done, I thought of a few things. First, Hannah is a Morro Bay Pirate. My father was as well, so I’ve always rooted for the Mustang center. 

It also made me think about what a great job Faith Mimnaugh has done generally keeping local basketball talent at Cal Poly. With Kristina Santiago, Molly Schlemer as just a few local alumni, there is precedent and a clear pathway for local athletes. Gilbert and Mary-Kate Evans are from San Luis Obispo county as well.

I’m not a guy who says that a ton of players have to be from local schools, but when there are local players who are good enough to play Division I basketball, it is really great for fans to see that coach Mimnaugh and company are able to keep those local players at Cal Poly. 

But I digress. Big congratulations to Hannah and Amanda. Good luck in the Big West Tournament next week, ladies!

In their junior season, it looks like the Leaupepe twins are coming into their own. On Thursday night, Dynn Leaupepe scored 29 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished five assists. Not to be outdone, Lynn scored 26 points of her own to go with nine rebounds and two assists in Cal Poly’s 78-67 win over Blue-Green rival UCSB.

Dynn Leaupepe shows some emotion after an and-one bucket on Thursday night. By Owen Main

Hannah Gilbert played a great defensive game, fronting UCSB’s big post players all night while tallying 13 points and seven rebounds. Forward Amanda Lovely also had a monster game with 8 points and 12 rebounds.

Cal Poly was down 35-29 at halftime, but outscored the Gauchos 49-32 in the second half to pull away. Coco Miller went 7-13 from three-point range for UCSB to pace them with 23 points. Onome Jemerigbe used her quickness to get to the rim and score 17, but Cal Poly’s game-plan of laying off a number of Gaucho guards and sag and help on UCSB’s bigs really paid-off as the game wore-on.

Cal Poly will host CSUN on Saturday night at Mott Athletics Center at 4:00pm.

Photos by Owen Main. Find them all by clicking here.

Kristina Santiago will have her number 12 retired on December 3rd. By Pascal Corbat

Cal Poly women’s basketball legend Kristina Santiago joins Owen on this episode. The all-time leader in program points and rebounds will have her jersey number 12 retired on December 3rd prior to the 4:00 pm game. She talks about what the last few seasons of professional basketball have been like, her continued connection with Cal Poly, and what it’s like rehabbing from her third ACL tear.

Hannah Gilbert and Lisa Marie Sanchez had a dozen points apiece and Cal Poly used tough defense and timely second-half shooting to beat Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night at Mott Athletics Center.

Beth Balbierz had just four points but added four steals and three assists in the Mustang win. By Owen Main

Cal Poly had a tough time being efficient on the offensive end, but the Titans struggled even more to the tune of 23 turnovers.

Fullerton used a 9-2 run to start the third quarter to gain a five-point advantage, but Cal Poly came roaring back with a 13-4 run of their own to take the lead for good.

Gilbert pulled down seven rebounds for Cal Poly (9-7, 2-1), who got a little revenge after losing a Big West Tournament game to the Titans in 2015.

Photos by Owen Main

To View all photos, click here.

Lisa Marie Sanchez scored 10 points against Fresno State. By Owen Main

Faith Mimnaugh’s Cal Poly women’s basketball team kept it entertaining. On Saturday afternoon at Mott Athletics Center, the Mustangs earned a 60-46 lead with 6:24 left in the fourth quarter and then didn’t score for nearly five minutes before the Leaupepe twins made four consecutive free throws in the final minute to ice the 64-60 win over the visiting Fresno State Bulldogs.

Cal Poly’s balanced attack was lead by Dynn Leaupepe, who came off the bench to score 12 points. Lisa Marie Sanchez and Beth Balbierz scored 11 apiece and Hannah Gilbert chipped in 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Fresno State kept themselves in the game, hitting 88 percent from the free throw line (21-24), but Cal Poly’s big fourth quarter lead was too much to overcome in the end.

Tribune article

Photos by Owen Main

Morro Bay High School product Hannah Gilbert scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds in Cal Poly’s Saturday win. By Owen Main

The Cal Poly women’s basketball team beat UC Irvine on Saturday to improve their conference record to 6-2 and maintain their half-game lead over Long Beach State and Hawai’i in the Big West.

The Mustangs were in control for pretty much the entire game behind a balanced scoring attack.Dynn Leaupepe and Hannah Gilbert scored 14 points each to pace Cal Poly. Kristen Ale and Ariana Elegado both added nine points.

Cal Poly has Thursday off before a gauntlet of three games against the three other best teams in the conference — all on the road. First, they travel to Hawai’i for a Saturday game before traveling the next week to Cal State Northridge for an ESPN3 game and Long Beach State. While the first half of conference play is over, the conference tournament seeds could easily be decided for the Mustangs over the next 14 days.

Photos by Owen Main. To view on an iPad, click here.

Over 2,000 fans showed-up to Mott Athletics Center on Saturday afternoon. By Owen Main

They didn’t break the attendance record, but Faith Mimnaugh’s Cal Poly women’s basketball team won the prize they valued most on Saturday, beating defending conference champion Cal State Northridge 63-54 in front of 2,047 fans. The crowd was the second-largest showing in the history of the program.

Ariana Elegado led Cal Poly, tallying 22 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals, while playing 39 minutes.

Cal Poly got out to a 30-17 lead in the first half before CSUN cut the deficit to six at halftime. The Matadors continued their charge with a 21-4 run that straddled both halves to take a four point lead.

The lead didn’t last long though. Beth Balbierz answered with a three-pointer, Elegado a jumper, and Mary Kate Evans a three-pointer of her own to spur a 15-0 Mustang run, as Cal Poly once again built-up a double digit lead.

Cal Poly lost to the Matadors all three times they faced off a year ago, including in the Big West Tournament final. As Elegado detailed in the video below, revenge was definitely a motivating factor in this game.

Kristen Ale was the only other Mustang in double figures with 10 points to go along with six rebounds. Hannah Gilbert led the team in rebounds with seven while playing the game with strep throat.

Cal Poly is now 8-8 overall and 3-1 in Big West play, where they sit tied for second place behind Long Beach State. CSUN, the preseason conference favorite, drops to 2-2 in conference play.

Photos by Owen Main. To view on an iPhone or iPad, click here.

A strong social media campaign is at the center of Cal Poly women’s basketball’s effort to #BreakTheRecord on Saturday afternoon.

The attendance record for a Cal Poly women’s game at Mott Athletics Center is 2,552 and was set on March 5, 2011. Basketball players have been seen around campus all week and various groups have posted Twitter photos of themselves with white shirts with the #BreakTheRecord slogan.

I even got in on the act.

#BreakTheRecord @CalPolyWBB1 game. 4pm on Saturday. I think Mott can get filled up. 3000 is attainable. @BigWestWBB pic.twitter.com/7AB35Mqn4M

— fansmanship (@fansmanship) January 13, 2015

The Football coaches showed their support.

Cal Poly Football wants YOU at the Women's Basketball game on Saturday! @CalPolyWBB1 @calpolyfootball #BreakTheRecord pic.twitter.com/V78L66hTFJ

— Cal Poly Athletics (@CPMustangs) January 14, 2015

Here’s Joi Sullivan, the ASI President at Cal Poly.

ASI President Joi Sullivan is ready to #BreakTheRecord Are YOU? @CalPolyWBB1 vs CSUN tomorrow at 4 pm! pic.twitter.com/QXPhVUPOUX

— Cal Poly Athletics (@CPMustangs) January 16, 2015

Strength and Conditioning got into the act.

Cal Poly Strength & Conditioning want YOU at Mott Jan 17th! Be apart of the movement! #BreakTheRecord @CalPolyWBB1 pic.twitter.com/NhZsBqy6Mi

— Cal Poly Athletics (@CPMustangs) January 14, 2015

So did men’s player, David Nwaba.

Come help fill up Mott gym to support @CalPolyWBB1 in their game vs. CSUN this Saturday! #Breaktherecord pic.twitter.com/u983HtDpT7

— David Nwaba (@D_H00Plv) January 12, 2015

The Cal Poly Alumni Association showed off their shirts on Instagram.

The @calpolywbb team needs our help! They want to #breaktherecord for single game attendance THIS SATURDAY the 17th at their game against Northridge. Spread the word and help them out! We need more than 2,552 proud Mustangs in those seats! #calpolyproud @cpathletics

A photo posted by Cal Poly Alumni (@calpolyalumni) on Jan 12, 2015 at 2:55pm PST

And finally, some random students. I actually think some of them are volleyball players.

These Cal Poly students are ready to #BreakTheRecord ARE YOU? @CalPolyWBB1 @BigWestWBB pic.twitter.com/Yhj3YzaWLg

— Cal Poly Athletics (@CPMustangs) January 16, 2015

The question will be, can they get to the magic number of 2,553. I think so.

Students generally come out when there’s a big event like this. Recent soccer crowds have shown that there’s some enthusiasm there. That enthusiasm has also been shared with the men’s basketball team, which sold-out their game (3,032) against UCSB.

Dynn Leaupepe had her best individual game of the season. By Owen Main

There weren’t a ton of people at last night’s game, but the Mustangs played a frantic, exciting game in their loss to Long Beach State, who has only lost one game this year.

As the Mustangs started to cut into a big deficit, both Dynn and Lynn Leaupepe played key roles with aggressive defense and drives to the basket. The two are both getting better at going into the lane with more controlled drives, but there are still some that remind a fan that they are freshmen.

For her part, Dynn had an especially notable game. She scored a career-high 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds and three steals. Her 27 points were the most a Mustang had scored in a game this season.

The top six teams in the Big West are all pretty darn good, and Cal State Northridge was picked as the preseason number-one. Adding to the intrigue, the Matadors beat Cal Poly in last year’s tournament final.

The game sets-up really nicely. Now all they need are people to show up. They’ve had a great campaign. For their sake, here’s hoping it pays off.

Photos by Owen Main