Feb. 28, 2002
SAN DIEGO - Utah guard Kelcy Stireman stole the ball at mid-court and converted a lay-up with 14 seconds to go to lift the Utes past San Diego State, 47-45, in front of 689 Thursday night at Cox Arena.
Senior Tanisha Knight drilled a jumper from just outside the lane to put San Diego State (10-16, 2-11 MWC) up 45-44 with 40 seconds to go and the Aztecs had huge stop on the ensuing Utah possession, but an errant pass from Jamey Cox to Knight was picked off by Stireman as SDSU was trying to run out the clock.
"We had the game and we brought the ball into the half court but had a critical turnover," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith. "We just didn't protect the ball. We had the lead and we just needed to run out the clock and that's what is so disappointing."
San Diego State put out perhaps its finest defensive performance of the season, causing 24 Utah turnovers, most via the Aztecs' conference season-high 15 steals, and holding the Utes to a season-low 47 points.
The Aztecs, who led by three with just under four minutes to go, kept Utah off-balance all night long with a full-court press that it never really solved, often forcing the Utes deep into the shot clock and limiting quality looks at the basket.
"Our press was doing a great job and defensively we played a great game," Smith said as the Aztecs held Utah under 40-percent shooting from the field. "It just came down to one possession."
But the Aztecs also struggled offensively themselves, converting just 15-of-56 (27 percent) attempts from the floor.
Knight came off the bench to have a huge performance for SDSU, finishing with a game-high 12 points and hauling down a team-leading eight rebounds to go with three blocked shots and five steals. However, she was the only Aztec to score in double figures. Claire Swinbank scored nine points and grabbed four steals and Morgan Vargas added eight points in a reserve roll to pace the rest of the squad.
"Tanisha and Morgan really sparked us in the second half," Smith said. "They both came in and hit some big baskets when we need them."
Lindsay Herbert scored 12 points and Carley Marshall added nine points and a game-high nine rebound to lead Utah (14-11, 7-6 MWC).
Both teams struggled to find the basket during the first half, as neither squad was able to crack 40 percent from the floor.
San Diego State, which twice trailed by as many as six points, force three ties but could never take the lead.
Trailing by just one with seven minutes to go, the Aztecs managed just four points the rest of the half as Utah got a trey from Stireman and two jumpers from Herbert to take a 21-17 lead into the break.
"This team hasn't quit all year," added Smith. "They are resilient and they keep coming back and tonight was another example."
San Diego State wraps up its regular season Saturday night when the Aztec host Brigham Young for an 8:30 p.m. (PST) tip in Cox Arena.