NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Division II : Cal Poly Pomona Loses in Final, 77-75

Joy Jeter poured in 30 points and hauled down 15 rebounds as the University of New Haven downed defending champion Cal Poly Pomona, 77-75, to win the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament Saturday night.

The game was tied at the half, 35-35. Then the Chargers scrambled to a six-point lead, the largest of the game, with 6:21 left behind the shooting of Jeter, a 6-foot sophomore from Beaver Falls, Pa., who was named the tournament’s outstanding player.

New Haven held on behind the ball-handling of another Beaver Falls sophomore, 5-2 Charlene Taylor, who finished with 12 points, 7 assists and 3 steals.

All of New Haven’s starters finished in double figures as the Chargers (29-3) won their 28th straight game to became the first women’s team from New England to win the NCAA Division II crown.

Cal Poly Pomona has won the tournament three of the six years it has been played and finished second twice. The Broncos were led by 6-3 freshman center Niki Bracken with 28 points and 13 rebounds, and 5-6 point guard Michelle McCoy with 22 points.

The Broncos finished 29-3.