[Box score]

CARSON, Calif. - It is never ideal to play a conference opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but No. 7 seed Chico State made the most of its draw by defeating No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona in overtime 57-52 to earn the program's first NCAA postseason win since 2014.
 
Jordan Allred scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double. It was her second in the last three games. Meadow Aragon added 12, and Jadence Clifton scored 10 off the bench.
 
Sydney Nelson's 20 points and nine rebounds paced Cal Poly Pomona. Brielle Minor had 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Meeting for the fourth time this season, both teams found it challenging to get open looks. Chico shot just .292 percent for the game and Cal Poly Pomona only .313 percent. They also combined to go 4-of-27 from 3-point range and commit 27 turnovers.
 
Chico State built a 28-19 halftime lead and was in front by seven (40-33) going into the final quarter. CPP then held the Wildcats to only eight points in the 10-minute frame as it battled back and tied the game at 46-46 on a 3-pointer by Breanne Ha.
 
The Broncos would take their first lead of the game on a layup by Minor with 3:17 remaining. Both teams then went into a drought for the next two minutes as they each came up empty on three possessions. And although they were struggling to find rhythm, Chico State had possession down just two with a minute remaining.
 
On their possession, the Wildcats tried to run a play but found no space. That is when Allred put her head down and drove the basket from the left wing. She found just enough space, and she was able to elevate over two defenders to bank in the game-tying layup.
 
Both teams would have chances to win the game in regulation but both came up short and the contest went to overtime.
 
For the first four minutes of overtime, the teams traded baskets. Aragon would play a critical role in the go-ahead basket as her pass found Allred wide open on a backdoor cut to put Chico in front 54-52. Cal Poly Pomona had a look to tie the game on the subsequent possession, but the shot caromed off the rim, and Chico hit 3-of-4 free throws in the last nine seconds to secure the victory.
 
Chico State had not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2014, when they defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills before being eliminated by Cal Poly Pomona.
 
Chico State will now face Central Washington in the regional semifinals on Saturday, March 15, at 5 p.m. 

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS WITH CHICO STATE AND CAL POLY POMONA