Nov. 5, 1999
SAN DIEGO - Senior Mary Apiafi recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds and sophomore Claire Swinbank added 13 points to lead the San Diego State women?s basketball team past the National Women?s Basketball League?s USA Elite Team, 68-60, at Cox Arena Friday night.
The Aztecs, who lost both exhibitions last season, used a 23-6 run keyed by six points from Apiafi midway through the second half to build their largest lead of the game at 62-39 with 5:54 to play. USA Elite cut the deficit to single digits with under a minute to play but could get no closer as SDSU held on for the victory.
?I was pleased with our overall effort tonight,? said SDSU head coach Barb Smith. ?We did some very positive things. It?s always great to get that first win under out belts. But we have a long way to go and there are many areas in which we need to improve. We?ll get after it this week in practice and I think we?ll show a much more consistent effort next weekend.?
The Aztecs got off to a slow start but still managed to build a 16-point first half lead behind a stifling defensive effort and led the game 27-11 with 3:42 to play in the first half before USA Elite responded with a 13-4 run that sliced SDSU?s half time lead to just seven points at 31-24.
Junior Anita Bundage, sophomore Atim Otii and freshman Jamey Cox each contributed nine points in the winning effort. USA Elite was led by Delonda Little, Cozette Ealy and Michelle Duckworth who each tallied 12 points.
The only negative to come out of the game for San Diego State occurred early in the second stanza when the Aztecs? leading returning scorer, senior Sophia Sledge took a charge that resulted in a potentially season-ending knee injury. Preliminary diagnosis from the Aztecs? medical staff suggest that Sledge, who hails from Santee, Calif., may have suffered an slight Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear. She will undergo an MRI on Sunday.
San Diego State returns to the hardwood next Saturday, Nov. 13, for their second and final exhibition game of the season against SBC HK Perov of the Czech Republic. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cox Arena.