LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — JaQuoia Jones-Brown scored 28 points and Long Beach State mounted a dominant fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Cal Poly 67-57 in a Big West Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Walter Pyramid.

In a matchup of teams struggling through difficult seasons, the 49ers erased a nine-point deficit entering the final period by outscoring the Mustangs 26-8 over the final 10 minutes. The victory improved Long Beach State to 4-23 overall, while Cal Poly fell to 3-24.

The game’s decisive shift was stark. Cal Poly, which led 49-41 after three quarters, saw its offense stagnate against a reinvigorated Long Beach State defense. The Mustangs managed just three field goals in the fourth quarter, shooting 3 of 13 from the floor and committing six turnovers as the 49ers seized control.

Jones-Brown, a 5-foot-6 guard from Atlanta, was the catalyst for the rally, scoring 11 of her points in the fourth quarter. She finished the night 9 of 18 from the field and a perfect 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, adding two assists in 40 minutes of action. Her backcourt mate, Rosie Akot, added 15 points, including a crucial 3-pointer early in the fourth that ignited the home team’s run. Akot, a 6-foot-2 guard from Adelaide, Australia, also contributed three assists and three steals.

The game began as a low-scoring, defensive struggle. Long Beach State built a 15-10 lead after the first quarter behind early 3-pointers from Akot and Brynna Pukis. Cal Poly responded forcefully in the second quarter, holding the 49ers to just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting. The Mustangs closed the half on a 12-2 run, capped by a Nora Perez free throw, to take a 28-22 lead into the break.

Cal Poly extended its advantage in the third quarter, leading by as many as 11 points. Vanessa McManus and Charish Thompson shouldered the offensive load for the Mustangs, each finishing with 15 points. Alana Goosby orchestrated the attack with nine points and a game-high six assists. The Mustangs’ defense forced 14 Long Beach State turnovers, converting them into 10 steals.

However, the offensive efficiency that carried Cal Poly through the middle quarters vanished in the fourth. Meanwhile, Long Beach State found its rhythm, shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 8 of 10 from the foul line in the final period. A 12-0 run midway through the quarter turned a 50-46 Cal Poly lead into a 58-50 advantage for the 49ers, a margin they would not relinquish.

Key sequences down the stretch sealed the outcome. With under two minutes to play and leading 60-57, Long Beach State’s Khylee Pepe grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a tip-in to push the lead to five. On the ensuing possession, Cal Poly turned the ball over, and Pepe was fouled, making both free throws to extend the lead to seven with 21 seconds left. Jones-Brown closed the game with two more free throws in the final seconds.

For the game, Long Beach State shot 46.2% from the field and a efficient 50% from 3-point range. Cal Poly, despite winning the assist (10-7) and steal (10-7) battles, shot just 36.4% overall and 23.1% from beyond the arc. The 49ers also held a slight edge in rebounding, 34-31.

The win gave Long Beach State a split of the season series after Cal Poly won the first meeting 63-49 on Jan. 3 in San Luis Obispo. Both teams return to action Saturday in their final home games of the regular season. Cal Poly hosts UC San Diego, while Long Beach State welcomes Cal State Bakersfield.