Nov. 23, 2001
SAN DIEGO - This why they play the game.
San Diego State, a prohibitive favorite versus Division II UC San Diego at Cox Arena Friday night, was expected to cruise past the Tritons. Instead, the Aztecs were stunned by their cross-town foes, falling 63-59, in front of 459.
Three Aztecs scored in double figures paced by Ashonda Williams and Missy Schomaker who finished with 13 points each. But a five-minute scoring drought in the final seven minutes of the game and a 20-rebound Triton edge on the boards was too much to overcome for San Diego State (1-2).
"We got out-hustled at both ends tonight," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith. "UCSD came in here and they wanted to win. It was (the Tritons') first game and they were excited and you have to give them a lot of credit. They played their butts off and they deserved to win this game."
San Diego State controlled much of the first half, leading by as many as eight points just two minutes before intermission. But UCSD scored six of the final seven points of the period to slice to the Aztecs' lead to just 29-26 at the break.
That run continued on the second half as the Tritons scored 12 of the first 18 points to take a 38-35 lead less than five minutes into the period.
SDSU, however, responded with a 10-3 run of its own to re-take the lead and stayed in front until the five-minute mark when UCSD used a 9-0 spurt to go ahead for good.
The Aztecs scored seven points in the last two minutes and pulled within a basket on a Williams 3-pointer with 1:30 to play but could draw no closer as the Tritons hit just enough of their free throws down the stretch to stave off the comeback bid.
"I think we took a lot for granted," said Smith. "We did not play well. Our starters did not come out and do a very good job and we never got into the flow of our game."
Maya Fok scored a game-high 16 points and Margaret Johnson added 15 to lead UCSD (1-0). Four Tritons finished with at least five rebounds including Danyiel Wortham, who finished with eight as UCSD posted a 48-28 advantage on the boards. Wortham also had a game-high six steals.
In addition to her 13 points, Schomaker also led the Aztecs on the glass, pulling down a career-high eight rebounds. Claire Swinbank was only other player to score in double figures, finishing with 11 points. She also had a game-high six assists and a team-leading five steals.
San Diego State will try to snap its two-game losing streak on Sunday, when the Aztecs host Navy at Cox Arena. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.