While the men’s team was celebrating a successful 2008 season, the women’s team ended its season quietly in San Luis Obispo, with a 71-55 loss to Cal Poly on Saturday.

In stark contrast to the men, who are conference co-champions, the CSUN women did not win a single conference game, resulting in a last place finish in the Big West and a seat in the stands while the Big West tournament goes on without them this week.

Senior Katie Holloway, who was named to the All-Big West Second Team on Monday, posted another fine performance against Cal Poly, scoring 26 points, grabbing four rebounds and blocking one shot in the loss.

Junior guard Tonicia Tademy chipped in 12 points, pulled down 6 rebounds and dished out five assists. Junior Crystal Hahs blocked four shots and junior guard Ashley Blake made three steals.

The Matadors shot 18-for-53 from the floor (34.0 percent) and made just one of 15 shots beyond the arc (6.7 percent). From the free-throw line CSUN shot 72.0 percent.

The Mustangs weren’t much better, shooting 39.1 percent (25-for-64) from the floor, 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) from three-point range, and 73.9 percent from the free-throw line.

For Cal Poly, two players posted double-doubles with Kristina Santiago scoring a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Megan Harrison scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Santiago also blocked two shots. Rebecca Tratter came off the bench, adding 12 points and five rebounds.

The Mustangs got 45 points from their bench, while the Matadors had just seven points from their reserves.

It looked as if the Matadors might have a chance to get a conference win in Santa Barbara on Thursday night, as the Gauchos’ two top scorers, Jessica Wilson and Kat Suderman, were serving one-game suspensions for fighting during their game against UC Riverside. But, the Gauchos are conference champions for a reason and despite a career-high in points from Holloway and a career-high in rebounds from Katrina Thompson, the Matadors lost 71-58.

Holloway posted another double-double with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Thompson pulled down 13 rebounds, scored five points and had four assists.

Hahs scored nine points and four rebounds, while recording a season-high six blocks. Ashley Blake scored eight points.

For Santa Barbara, Chisa Ononiwu scored a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Margaret Johnson scored 14 and Ashlee Brown posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Brown also had 4 blocks in the game. Meagan Williams rounded out double-digit scoring for the Gauchos with 11 points.

The Matadors outshot the Gauchos from the field (29.4 percent to 27.9 percent), in three point range (33.3 percent to 20.0 percent) and at the free throw line (73.5 percent to 66.0 percent). Santa Barbara grabbed 54 rebounds to CSUN’s 44.

Despite the rivalry between CSUN and Santa Barbara, when Holloway fouled out of the game, the Santa Barbara fans gave her a standing ovation.

CSUN finished the season with a 1-26 overall record and 0-16 in the Big West.