Nov. 22, 2002
SAN DIEGO - Aztec senior Jamey Cox had 26 points and freshman Ashlee Dunlap finished with a double-double as the San Diego State women's basketball team overcame 10 lead changes to win its season-opener, 75-58, over Centenary College Friday at Cox Arena. With the win, the Aztecs ushered in the Jim Tomey era with a victory, moving to 1-0, while the Centenary Ladies dropped to 0-1, following the non-conference game.
The Aztecs fell behind early in the second half, 34-35, on the first scoring play, as Centenary's Alexis Pettway put her team up with a lay-up off an assist from Demetria Dorsey. SDSU reclaimed the lead on the very next play on a lay-up from Dunlap, helping the Aztecs build an eight-point advantage at 46-38.
Centenary, however, came charging back, tying the score at 46 and then taking the lead for the final time on a jumper from Katie Nicol, 46-48. After a three-pointer from senior Ashonda Williams (Crockett, Calif.) put SDSU back on top, 49-48, the Ladies still remained close until a jumper from freshman Veronica Shaw (Phoenix, Ariz.) started a 20-6 Aztec scoring run in the final 10:33 of the game.
Cox (Waterloo, Iowa) finished the evening with 26 points, the most by an Aztec since she scored 27 points against Colorado State in March of 2000. Cox's 26 points included 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, with four, three-pointers coming in the second half. Cox was helped offensively by Dunlap (Los Angeles, Calif.), who contributed 14 points and 10 boards for her first double-double in her first career game.
Two other Aztecs reached double-figures, as Shaw and junior Nicolette McCartny (Chicago, Ill.) scored 10 points each. Pettway led Centenary with a double-double of her own, putting in 22 points and tallying 13 rebounds.
SDSU heads out on the road for three games next weekend, beginning with a Monday night game at St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif. The Aztecs will then celebrate Thanksgiving with a trip to the four-team Fresno State Classic, Nov. 29-30.