POMONA, Calif. – Heading up north to take on a pair of Bay Area teams, the Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team will begin California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff on Friday against the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay.
 
The Broncos have registered a 2-2 record thus far on the season and will be heading to Hayward for Friday's game. After that, the Broncos will head a bit south to challenge the Otters of Cal State Monterey Bay. CPP's most recent action was a 89-80 win over Simon Fraser.
 
CSUEB will be looking to extend its current four-game win streak, with which the Pioneers have earned a 4-1 mark on the year.
 
With six seniors leading the way, CPP holds both regional and national rankings. In the latest D2SIDA West Region poll, the Broncos are featured at No. 4. According to the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll, CPP is No. 22 nationally.
 
Senior Jada Blackwell leads the Broncos with 24.8 points per game as she has made 32 baskets from the field and 28 free throws en route to her 99 points on the season. On defense, she has secured eight offensive rebounds and 23 defensive boards. Those rebounds coupled with six blocks have earned her numerous spots on the conference leaderboards.
 
Blackwell's scoring average has landed her at the helm of the CCAA for that category. She is also ranked at fifth in rebounds per game, eighth in field goal percentage, fourth in three-point percentage, second in total points scored, third in defensive rebounds, and second in blocks per game.
 
Ariel Marsh has contributed immensely to the CPP squad this year as well, holding second place on the team and fourth in the CCAA in points per game. The senior leads CPP with 14 of the team's 28 buckets from beyond the arc, also good for second in conference.
 
As the Bronco with the most minutes this season, Marsh has also scored a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line. In the latest game against regionally-ranked Simon Fraser, the Chino Hills native poured in 27 points and went 7-for-7 from the line.
 
Dishing out nearly one-third of the Broncos' assists, Lauren Goecke has averaged five assists per game to hold the No. 1 spot in the CCAA for that category.
 
Yet another Bronco among the conference frontrunners, Ashley Lovett ranks at fourth with a 62.1 field goal percentage.
 
As a team, the Broncos rank third in the conference with 78 points per game, second in free throw percentage, and lead the way with 16.5 assists per contest.
 
CSUMB also opens its conference play this weekend as they host the Tritons of UC San Diego. Heading into that matchup, the Otters own a 2-2 tally on the season, with their latest game being an 81-67 win over Cal State San Marcos. The Broncos play the Otters on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.