Nov. 25, 2001
SAN DIEGO - Sometimes you just have to shoot your way out of a slump.
The San Diego State women's basketball team shot it self back to health Sunday, holding off a scrappy Navy squad and snapping a two-game losing streak with a 73-69 victory over the Midshipman in front of 449 at Cox Arena.
Jamey Cox scored a team-high 20 points, including her sixth 3-pointer of the game with 1:50 remaining to break a 66-66 tie as San Diego State (2-2), which led by as many as 14 points in the second half, held off a furious comeback bid by Navy (2-2).
"When times are tough it's the character of the team that brings you back and I think our team played with a lot of character today," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith. "They came out and played hard and though they still had some mistakes they played through them and that's what we need to build on."
Atim Otii, one of four Aztecs to finish in double figures, scored 17 points and hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds, including six crucial offensive boards, for her second double-double of the season, helping SDSU to a 41-29 edge on the glass.
Ashonda Williams finished in double digits with 14 points, including four of SDSU's school-record 11 3-pointers, and Claire Swinbank added 11 and a career-high nine assists in the victory.
"We really focused on rebounding and turnovers going into the game and we were much more productive in both areas today," Smith said. "We also moved the ball really well and that allowed us to get open shots. We looked the most comfortable we have all season versus a zone defense today and a lot of that had to do with good ball movement."
San Diego State found out just how effective the weapon the 3-point weapon could be early on, connecting on a season-high six during the first half alone, including back-to-back bombs by Williams and a third by Cox during an 11-0 run that gave the Aztecs a six-point lead midway through the period.
SDSU's edge swelled to as many as nine 2:53 before intermission. But Navy scored six of the half's final eight points to slice the Aztecs' advantage to 34-29 at the break.
The Aztec, however, opened the second half by scoring 15 of the first 21 points to take their biggest lead of the game.
Still, Navy wasn't about to go quietly and used an 18-4 run to tie the game at 53 with just over seven minutes to play.
Three more ties highlighted the final five minutes of play until Cox, who connected on 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, put the Aztecs on top for good.
"If (Jamey) plays well, the team will follow," said Smith. "Being the point guard, she's in a critical position and she's one of the captains. So when she plays relaxed the whole team relaxes and plays with her and she did that today. She had a great effort."
Courtney Davidson, who scored 18 of her game-high 22 points in the second half before fouling out with 1:28 to play, paced the Midshipmen and almost single-handedly kept Navy in the game down the stretch.
Bryanna Herring added 19 points and eight rebounds and Maile Shimoda chipped in with 14 points for the Mids.
The San Diego State women's basketball team returns to action next weekend as the Aztecs travel to Fort Worth, Texas to face Prairie View A&M on Dec. 1 and Texas Christian on Dec. 2. Both games can be heard live over the Internet a www.goaztecs.com.