Jan. 2, 2001
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Sometimes a team has to learn how to win. After suffering so many close losses a year ago, San Diego State is turning those near misses into victories in 2000-01.
The Aztecs (7-5) did it again Tuesday night at Cal Poly, holding off the Mustangs 73-63 for their fourth straight victory, its longest under current head coach Barb Smith.
"It feels great to have a winning streak of four games," said Smith, who has the Aztecs off to their best start of her tenure. "We are starting to learn what it takes to win on the road and to hold on in close games."
Sophomore Jamey Cox finished with 14 points, the fourth time this season she has led the Aztecs in scoring, and Shannon Lee added a season-high 13 to pace a balanced SDSU attack that saw four Aztecs finish in double figures.
The loss was just the second in six games at home this season for the Mustangs (6-5), who went to the free throw line 44 times but converted only 23 attempts.
SDSU led 32-28 at intermission used a 6-0 run midway through the second half to take their biggest lead of the game, 58-47, with 8:39 to play.
Cal Poly rallied down the stretch, but could never pull closer than six points, despite out rebounding the Aztecs, 48-39, and sending SDSU to the line 20 times in the last three minutes.
The Aztecs canned, however, 14 of them, including four in a row each by Cox and Missy Schomaker, in the final minute to preserve the win.
San Diego State returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 7, when the Aztecs travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Tip off is 1 p.m. (PST).