Dec. 6, 2000
SAN JOSE - San Diego State turned in another solid defensive effort at San Jose State Wednesday night, holding the Spartans to just 32-percent shooting from the field, but couldn't overcome a season-high 27 turnovers as the Aztecs dropped a 59-54 decision at the Event Center.
San Diego State (3-5) trailed 56-54 with 47 seconds to play and had a chance to tie the game, but freshman Nicolette McCartny missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Aztecs never scored again.
San Jose State's Diseph Igoni grabbed the rebound and 26 seconds later Spartan guard Atari Parker hit a runner in the lane to put the game out of reach. Parker added a free throw to provide the final margin of victory.
"This was a tough game for us," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith, whose Aztecs wrapped up their four-game road trip at 2-2 with the loss. "It was our fourth straight on the road and I'm not sure we were 100-percent ready to play. We struggled with turnovers and that had a lot to do with how the game went."
The victory was just the third in 19 tries for San Jose State (4-2) against the Aztecs and the first in San Jose.
Aztec junior Tanisha Knight led SDSU with 16 points and a career-best five blocks, while junior Atim Otii pulled down a season-high 11. Sophomore Jamey Cox, who has been mired in a shooting slump for the last four games, finished with just six points but dished out a career-high eight assist. Cox also pulled down career-best eight rebounds.
San Jose State, which led 26-23 at the break, had three players finish in double figures, incluing freshman Cricket Williams, who finished with 16.
The Spartans held their largest lead of the game, six points, at the 17:16 mark of the second half before the Aztecs scored six unanswered to tie the game a 33. There would be five more ties and seven lead changes before all was said and done.
San Diego State's final lead, 46-44 with five minutes to play, was erased by an 8-2 Spartan run over the next 1:30. The Aztecs never led again.
San Diego State returns to action on Dec. 18 when the Aztecs open a three-game home stand at Cox Arena against Cal State Fullertion. Tip off is schedule for 7 p.m.