SEATTLE (Interstat) — In a game decided by the slimmest of margins, the Seattle Redhawks edged the Cal Poly Mustangs 75-73 in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller Saturday afternoon at a sparsely attended Redhawk Center.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair characterized by runs, defensive stops, and crucial plays in the final minute, ultimately allowing Seattle to even its record at 2-2 while Cal Poly fell to 1-2.

Cal Poly’s Charish Thompson delivered a powerhouse performance, leading all scorers with 29 points. The Sachse, Texas, native added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 33 minutes, consistently attacking the rim to keep the Mustangs within striking distance. Her efforts were complemented by a double-double from Vanessa McManus of Staten Island, New York, who tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Seattle countered with a balanced and formidable frontcourt attack. Andjela Bigovic, a 6-foot-5 center from Herceg Novi, Montenegro, was a dominant force inside, scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Her efficiency and post presence were pivotal for the Redhawks. Ella Brubaker of University Place, Washington, also provided 16 points and eight rebounds, while Tamia Stricklin from nearby Renton recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The game’s tempo was set early as Seattle used a 22-point first quarter to establish a narrow lead. The Redhawks’ offense was fueled by ball movement and three-point shooting, where they held a distinct advantage, making 7 of 21 attempts compared to Cal Poly’s 3 of 16 from beyond the arc.

Cal Poly clawed back in the second period, outscoring Seattle 17-13 to trim the deficit and head into halftime trailing by just three points. The third quarter was a dead heat, with both teams netting 19 points, setting the stage for a dramatic final 10 minutes.

The fourth quarter saw multiple lead changes. With just over a minute remaining and the score tight, Seattle’s defense came up with a critical stop. Following a Cal Poly turnover, the Redhawks worked the ball inside to Bigovic, whose hook shot with 1:06 left gave Seattle a 74-70 lead.

Cal Poly’s Madison Butcher of Loomis, California, answered with a clutch three-pointer off an assist from Alana Goosby to cut the lead to one point with 15 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Seattle’s Tamia Stricklin was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. She missed the first attempt but calmly sank the second, putting the Redhawks up 75-73.

Cal Poly had one final chance to tie or win the game. After a timeout, the Mustangs ran a play for Goosby, but her driving layup attempt in heavy traffic rimmed out as time expired, sealing the victory for Seattle.

While Thompson’s scoring was the headline for Cal Poly, the playmaking of Alana Goosby from Allen, Texas, was instrumental. The 5-foot-7 guard dished out seven assists, ran the offense for 36 minutes and added two blocks. For Seattle, Chloe Emanga of Marbach, Germany, provided a vital spark off the bench with 15 points, and Dylan Mogel facilitated the offense with a team-high six assists.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Seattle shot 46.3 percent from the field to Cal Poly’s 44.4 percent. Both teams pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, blocked four shots and committed a similar number of turnovers. The Redhawks, however, capitalized slightly better on those opportunities, scoring 19 points off turnovers to Cal Poly’s 15. Seattle also held a narrow efficiency edge, posting an offensive rating of 98.3 on 76 possessions, compared to Cal Poly’s 94.2 on 78 possessions.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which had given Cal Poly an 80.10 percent probability to win.

Cal Poly looks to rebound quickly as it travels to face Eastern Washington on Monday. Seattle’s next contest is on the road at Boise State next Friday.