NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Division II Semifinals : Cal Poly Beats Delta State

Freshman Debra Larsen scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Cal Poly Pomona to a 71-68 win over Delta State in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament Thursday night.

The Broncos, 29-3 and ranked No. 1 all season, now try for their second straight Division II title Saturday night against North Dakota State (24-8), which downed Philadelphia Textile, 77-61, in the other semifinal game.

Cal Poly led, 36-32, at the half. But Delta State (28-3) went up by four, 62-66, with three minutes left behind two straight baskets by 5-10 freshman Betsy Hubbs, who finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds.

Cal Poly fought back and with 55 seconds left Larsen connected on a lay-up to put the Broncos ahead 70-68 and Violet Palmer store the ball with four seconds left. Michelle McCoy, who finished with 18 points, iced the victory by hitting the opener of a one-and-one.