SEATTLE (Interstat) — In a game decided in the final seconds, the Seattle women’s basketball team edged Cal Poly 75-73 on Saturday at Redhawk Center.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair that featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties, ultimately coming down to a pair of clutch free throws from Seattle’s Tamia Stricklin with six seconds remaining to secure the victory for the home team.

Cal Poly’s Charish Thompson delivered a powerhouse performance, leading all scorers with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor. She added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 33 minutes of action. Vanessa McManus recorded a double-double for the Mustangs with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Alana Goosby facilitated the offense with a team-high seven assists.

Seattle countered with a balanced and efficient offensive attack, led by Andjela Bigovic’s 20 points and eight rebounds. The 6-foot-5 center from Herceg Novi, Montenegro, shot 9 of 17 from the field. Ella Brubaker added 16 points and eight rebounds, and Chloe Emanga came off the bench to provide 15 crucial points. Stricklin finished with a triple-double, posting 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

The game was a tale of contrasting styles. Cal Poly dominated inside, outscoring Seattle 44-46 in the paint, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 3 of 16 three-point attempts. Seattle was more effective from deep, hitting 7 of 21, which proved to be a critical difference in the narrow margin.

Seattle opened the game strong, outscoring Cal Poly 22-19 in the first quarter behind early contributions from Bigovic and Brubaker. The Mustangs responded by clamping down on defense in the second period, holding the Redhawks to just 13 points to take a 36-35 lead into halftime.

The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, ending with Seattle clinging to a 54-52 advantage. The fourth quarter continued the tense back-and-forth, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. With the game tied at 73 and seconds remaining, Stricklin was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to put Seattle ahead for good. A last-second driving layup attempt by Cal Poly’s Goosby rimmed out as time expired.

Seattle improved its season record to 2-2 with the win, while Cal Poly fell to 1-2. The Redhawks won despite committing 16 turnovers, as they forced 15 from the Mustangs and converted them into 19 points. Both teams were nearly even in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, underscoring the tightly contested nature of the game.

Cal Poly continues its road trip with a game at Eastern Washington on Monday. Seattle’s next contest is on the road at Boise State on Friday.