Feb. 3, 2000
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team posted what may have been their best offensive game of the season Thursday night versus Wyoming. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, the Cowgirls were even better, as Wyoming handed SDSU a 78-71 loss at Cox Arena.
"I was glad to see that our offense is continuing to improve," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith following her team's third-best scoring effort of the year. "But our defense just wasn't there tonight. We gave them too many good looks at the basket and it ended up costing us."
Wyoming's Carrie Bacon led all scores with 24 points, as the Cowgirls shot 56.1 percent from the field -- the best shooting performance by an SDSU opponent this season. Bacon also spearheaded the Cowgirls effort on the boards with 11 rebounds.
SDSU freshman Jamey Cox knocked down seven three-pointers and led four Aztecs in double figures with a team-high 23 points, including 14 in the second half. Senior Mary Apiafi notched her seventh double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds and junior guard Shannon Lee turned the trick for the second time this year with 11 points and 11 assists.
San Diego State, which faced a 40-31 halftime deficit, trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half before beginning to methodically chip away at the Wyoming advantage. Cox, who tied a career high with her seven treys, did much of the damage from the outside as the Aztecs used a three-for-two strategy to get back into the game.
Down 65-57 at the 7:02 mark, SDSU got back-to-back three-pointers from Cox and junior Anita Bundage to pull within five points. The two teams then traded baskets before another Cox trey closed the Aztecs to within four at 69-65 with 3:26 to play.
A three by Wyoming's Shelby Hoffman extended the lead back to seven, but SDSU found an answer as sophomore Atim Otii and Apiafi hit consecutive lay-ups to pull the Aztecs with in a single possession.
However, SDSU could get no closer as Wyoming connected on 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to thwart the Aztec comeback bid.
San Diego State returns to action on Saturday when the Aztecs host Colorado State at Cox Arena. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2:30 p.m. following a 12 noon men's basketball tilt between SDSU and New Mexico.