Jan. 13, 2000
SAN DIEGO - Mary Apiafi scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and freshman Jamey Cox added 11 points, but it wasn't enough as Utah held the Aztecs to their lowest point production of the season en route to a 53-44 victory in the inaugural Mountain West Conference basketball game for both school at Cox Arena Thursday night.
Amy Ewert scored 14 points and Kristina Anderson pitched in with 12 to lead the Utes (10-4, 0-1 Mtn. West).
Utah sandwiched a 19-4 run around halftime and twice led by as many as 15 points in the second half.
But with 8:03 to play SDSU (4-9, 0-1 Mtn. West) began chipping away at the Ute advantage.
Aztec freshman Kacee Wheeler, who finished with seven points, canned a pair of free throws to get things rolling for SDSU. An Apiafi lay-up followed by three free throws by junior Anita Bundage and a three pointer by Cox cut the lead to single digits. Sophomore Atim Otii then added a lay-up and Cox tallied two more free throws to pull the Aztecs within five at 47-42 with 1:27 to play
Ewert, however, caned a jumper in the lane with just one second remaining on the shot clock and Tiana Fuertes sank four straight free throws, her only points of the contest, in the final minute to put the game out of reach for SDSU.
San Diego State trailed by as many as seven during the first half before going on an 8-0 run to take a 16-15 lead 7:38 before intermission. The Aztecs, however, never led again as SDSU managed just two more buckets before halftime and Utah took a 26-20 lead into the locker room.
SDSU returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 15 when the Aztecs take on Brigham Young at Cox Arena.
Utah 53, San Diego State 44
Utah (10-4, 1-0 Mtn. West)
Anderson 4-8 1-2 12, Red 1-5 1-2 4, Beckman 1-1 2-2 4, Fuertes 0-3 4-4 4, Ewert 6-9 2-2 14, McColl 2-2 0-1 4, Gobbons 1-6 0-0 2, Sodja 0-1 0-0 0, Herbert 1-4 2-2 5, Marshall 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 18-43 12-15 53.
San Diego State (4-9, 0-1 Mtn. West)
Bundage 1-7 2-2 5, Otii 4-10 0-2 8, Apiafi 5-11 3-5 13, Lee 0-2 0-0 0, Cox 3-9 4-4 11, Wheeler 2-8 3-5 7, Kiesling 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-47 12-18 44.
Halftime?UTAH 26, SDSU 20. 3-Point Goals?UTAH 5-13 (Anderson 3-4, Red 1-3, Fuertes 0-2, Gibbons 0-2, Herbert 1-2), SDSU 2-11 (Bundage 1-4, Cox 1-5, Wheeler 0-2). Fouled out?UTAH: Beckman, SDSU: Lee. Rebounds?UTAH 33 (Red, Ewert, Marshall 4), SDSU 30 (Apiafi 7). Assists?UTAH 12 (Red 4), SDSU 10 (Lee, Cox 3). Fouls?UTAH 18, SDSU 16. Attendance?540.