CARSON, Calif. — In a battle of nationally ranked teams, the No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros continued their undefeated run with a 78-68 victory over No. 22 Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday afternoon at the Torodome. The Toros improved to 24-0 overall and 16-0 in CCAA play, maintaining their perfect record as they remain atop the conference standings.

The Toros came out strong in the first quarter, holding Pomona to just five points while taking a 14-5 lead. Dominguez Hills' defense was relentless, forcing seven turnovers and holding the Broncos to 7.7% shooting. Nala Williams and Joe'l Benoit combined for nine points in the opening frame to set the tone.

Pomona responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Toros 23-13 to cut the lead to 27-28 at halftime. Dominguez Hills struggled from the field, shooting just 23.5% in the period, but stayed in front thanks to Benoit's strong play inside and timely free throws from Cristina Jones and Williams. 

The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as the Toros dominated both ends of the floor with a 25-4 scoring run. Dominguez Hills' defense held the Broncos without a field goal, forcing 11 straight misses. Williams led the charge, scoring 10 points in the quarter, while Asia Jordan was a force in the paint with six points and two blocks. The Toros entered the final quarter with a commanding 53-32 lead.

Pomona made a push in the fourth quarter, scoring 36 points, but the Toros remained composed, hitting key free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Williams led all scorers with 22 points, adding 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals for a double-double. Benoit was a strong presence inside, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds. Jordan contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, while Teagan Thurman provided nine points and nine rebounds off the bench. Devon Lewis grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists, while Malia Goldsmith added six points and a key three-pointer in the second half.

The Toros' defense was the difference, forcing 22 turnovers and holding Pomona to just 35.1% shooting. Dominguez Hills also controlled the boards with a 52-39 rebounding advantage and scored 23 points off turnovers.

Cal State Dominguez Hills will return to action on the road Thursday, Feb. 13, at 5:30 p.m. against Stanislaus State as they look to continue their perfect season.