Dec. 11, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team shot just 31 percent from the field, as the University of San Diego won the first meeting between the two schools since 1996, 72-53, Wednesday at Jenny Craig Pavilion. With the loss, the Aztecs fell to 2-4, while the Toreros improved to 5-2, winning for just the second time in the 26-game series.
"In the first half, we took 14 more shots than them," SDSU head coach Jim Tomey said. "For the game, we shot 31 percent and missed everything around the basket. When you're missing shot after shot, it gets frustrating. Our inability to put the ball in the basket hurts our defensive part of our game, which has been pretty good."
Senior Jamey Cox (Waterloo, Iowa) was the only Aztec to reach double-figures in scoring, putting in 16 points and adding four steals. Cox was helped by senior Ashonda Williams' (Crockett, Calif.) seven points and team-high seven rebounds, while SDSU was without the services of senior Valencia Howard (right knee strain).
In the first half, SDSU fell behind by as many as nine points at 4-13 and 15-24, as two of the team's top scorers, Ashlee Dunlap (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Nicolette McCartny (Chicago, Ill.) were limited to a combined 15 minutes of playing time.
SDSU cut the USD first half lead with the help of a 7-0 run to 22-24 in the final six minutes, following two Cox lay-ups, a foul shot by Williams and a basket from Andrea Kiesling (Helena, Mont.). The Toreros responded with a small 5-2 run of their own, taking a 30-25 advantage into the half.
USD continued its momentum into the second half, jumping out to as big as a 27-point lead at 43-70, eventually winning 72-53.
Torero Marta Menuez had a game-high 18 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. USD, which overcame 25 turnovers in the game, had four players in all finish in double-figures.
SDSU heads back across town to Cox Arena for the start of a four-game home stand beginning Thursday, Dec. 19, with a non-conference game versus American University at 7:05 p.m.