Nov. 18, 2001
BERKELEY, Calif. - You can only climb the mountain so high before exhaustion finally sets in.
San Diego State, which was looking for its first 2-0 start in eight years, dug itself a hole too big to get out of as the Aztecs dropped a 74-60 decision to California in front of 604 Sunday afternoon at Haas Pavilion.
Claire Swinbank led the Aztecs with 15 points and Atim Otii added 14 points before fouling out with just under three minutes to play, but 26 turnovers and constant foul trouble were too much to overcome for San Diego State (1-1).
"Foul trouble and turnovers were the keys in this game," said San Diego State head coach Barb Smith, whose Aztecs attempted just nine free throws compared to 38 by the Golden Bears. "I am happy with how our players hung in there and didn't give up the fight but I have to give credit to Cal, they played a great game."
Jamey Cox finished in double figures for the 37th time in her two-plus year career with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers during a 24-7 spurt that helped the Aztecs trim a 19-point deficit to a single basket with just over seven minutes to play.
But, the battle to get back in the game proved to be too much for the Aztecs, who could muster only an Otii jumper over the next six minutes as the Golden Bears used a 15-2 run down the stretch to put the game on ice.
"We came so close to getting over the hump," Smith said, "We made a big run late in the game but then started turning the ball over again and not getting rebounds. But overall I was please with our effort and the heart we showed. But (Cal) kept their composure."
The win was the 23rd straight in a home season opener for California (1-0), which had five players score in double digits paced by Leigh Gregory and Kiki Williams who finished with 15 points each.
Ashonda Williams led all players with nine rebounds and Valencia Howard added eight points for the Aztecs who led by as many as seven points midway through the first half but trailed 29-21 at the break.
The San Diego State women's basketball team returns to action on Friday, Nov. 23, when the Aztecs host UC San Diego at Cox Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.