Cal Poly Basketball Falls to Hawai’i Despite Thompson’s 22 Points

Cal Poly Basketball suffered a 71-54 loss to the University of Hawai’i at Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo. The defeat came despite a strong 22-point performance from Charish Thompson.

Hawai’i used a dominant 20-0 run between the first and second quarters to take control. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 15-10 overall and 9-6 in Big West play. Meanwhile, Cal Poly dropped to 3-23 overall and 1-15 in conference action.

20-Point Run Changes the Game

Cal Poly started strong and built an early lead. The Mustangs scored the first six points and held a 14-7 advantage with 3:46 left in the first quarter.

However, Hawai’i responded with a decisive 20-0 run that shifted momentum completely. The Mustangs did not score again until the 6:46 mark of the second quarter.

Imani Perez sparked the surge with a three-pointer. Later, Ritorya Tamilo tied the game at 14-14 with a layup and added a free throw to give Hawai’i its first lead at 15-14. Perez then drained another three early in the second quarter to extend the margin to 24-14. Rebecca Moors capped the run with a fast-break three-pointer, pushing the score to 27-14.

That stretch set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

Balanced Attack Powers Hawai’i

Hawai’i displayed a balanced scoring effort throughout the game. Freshman Bailey Flavell led the team with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She also grabbed seven rebounds and recorded four assists without committing a turnover.

Perez finished with 14 points and tied her career high with four three-pointers. Saniyah Neverson added 14 points inside the paint. Tamilo contributed 13 points while shooting 5-of-6 from the field and converting all three free throws.

The Rainbow Wahine completed a regular-season sweep of Cal Poly. Furthermore, they secured one of eight spots in the Credit Union 1 Big West Women’s Basketball Championship scheduled for March 11-14 in Henderson, Nevada.

Charish Thompson Shines for Cal Poly Basketball

Cal Poly Basketball leaned heavily on Charish Thompson, who led all scorers with 22 points. She consistently attacked the rim and provided offensive energy.

However, the Mustangs struggled to find consistent support scoring. The team could not recover after Hawai’i’s second-quarter run. As a result, the deficit grew steadily in the second half.

Cal Poly’s conference struggles continued with the loss. Still, Thompson’s performance remains a bright spot for the program.

Conference Implications Moving Forward

The win keeps Hawai’i in strong contention in the Big West standings. The Rainbow Wahine now sit just a half-game behind UC Santa Barbara for fifth place and 1.5 games behind Cal State Fullerton for fourth.

They also carry momentum into their next matchup. The team has now won nine of its last ten games and rides a three-game winning streak.

Meanwhile, Cal Poly Basketball will look to regroup and focus on development as the season nears its conclusion.

Conclusion

Cal Poly Basketball showed early promise but could not withstand Hawai’i’s explosive 20-point run. Charish Thompson delivered an impressive 22-point effort, yet the Mustangs lacked enough scoring depth to stay competitive.

Hawai’i capitalized on balanced scoring and strong defense to secure a 71-54 victory. With the Big West Championship berth locked in, the Rainbow Wahine continue to build momentum heading into postseason play.

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