Nov. 25, 2002
MORAGA, Calif. - The San Diego State women's basketball team shot just 25 percent from the field from the field in the first half, scoring only 17 points, as the Aztecs went on to fall to St. Mary's College Monday, 60-47, at McKeon Pavilion. With the loss, the Aztecs moved to 1-1, while the St. Mary's Gaels improved to 1-1, following the non-conference game.
Despite the loss, SDSU got a second double-double of the season in as many tries from freshman forward Ashlee Dunlap (Los Angeles, Calif.), who posted a team-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Nicolette McCartny (Chicago, Ill.) added nine points before fouling out, while senior Jamey Cox (Waterloo, Iowa) was kept scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting for just the fifth time in her career.
In the first half, the Aztecs found themselves in a hole early, 0-5, unable to score until the 16:20 mark on a short jumper from McCartny off a pass from freshman Veronica Shaw (Phoenix, Ariz.). SDSU closed the gap to two points at 4-6 and 5-7, but then the Gaels capitalized on the Aztecs' foul troubles, running their lead to as much as 19 points, while keeping SDSU off the scoreboard for over six and a half minutes.
With St. Mary's increasing its lead to 24 points with 5:15 remaining in the half, a pair of foul shots by Shaw finally put the Aztecs into double-figures at 11-33. The Gaels kept the pressure on, however, increasing their lead to as much as 27 points twice and going into the locker room at the half with a 25-point advantage, 42-17.
Out of the break, SDSU cut the lead down to 22 on a pair of baskets by McCartny and a foul shot at 22-44. The Aztecs would not get that close again until the 9:30 mark, when Dunlap hit back-to-back jumpers at 32-53, putting the team down by 21 points.
In the final three minutes, San Diego State showed its resiliency by going on a 10-0 scoring run, including two, three pointers from senior Ashonda Williams (Crockett, Calif.) to cut the Gael lead to 13 points. St. Mary's ended the game by not scoring in the final five minutes, but still managed to hold on 60-47.
SDSU stays on the road for two more games this coming weekend at the four-team Fresno State Classic in Fresno, Calif. The Aztecs will take on Murray State Friday at 1 p.m., followed by the tournament consolation/championship game Saturday at 12 or 2 p.m.