Jan. 9, 2003
PORTLAND - Portland State's Nikki Petticrew hit four free throws in the last eight seconds, as the Vikings ended San Diego State's two-game win streak with a 59-55 victory Thursday at the Stott Center. With the loss, the Aztecs remained winless in an opponent's arena this season, falling to 5-6 overall, while the Vikings improved to 5-8 in 2002-03.
The Aztecs were led by senior Jamey Cox (Waterloo, Iowa), who scored 18 points and, in the process, broke the school's career three-point record. Cox finished the night with 211 three's for her career, beating the previous record of 206 set by SDSU Hall of Fame member Falisha Wright, who was in attendance at tonight's game as an assistant coach with Portland State.
Besides Cox, Aztec junior Nicolette McCartny (Chicago, Ill.) scored a season-high 15, while freshman forward Ashlee Dunlap (Los Angeles, Calif.) was limited to a season-low four points.
Cox recorded her record-breaking three-pointer from the right angle with 11:19 left in the first half and the Aztecs trailing, 16-18. The Vikings led for most of the first 20 minutes of play, before the SDSU put together an 8-0 run starting with a made free throw from freshman Amber Fouse (Compton, Calif.) at the 8:34 mark. SDSU would go up by as many as six points at 26-20, but Portland State battled back with its own 6-0 run to head into halftime with a 28-26 advantage.
Portland State built its lead in the second half, going up by as many as eight points before Cox hit back-to-back three pointers to get her team to within two at 39-41. Cox's three-point run continued with two more, as the guard scored 12 straight points to give the Aztecs' their first lead at 45-43, since the 2:07 mark of the first half.
The two sides then traded leads before Fouse, with the shot clock down to one, drove through lane to put up a lay-up and give her team the 55-54 edge with just 1:29 remaining in the game. After a Portland State foul shot tied the game at 55, San Diego State was unable to inbound the ball with eight seconds left in regulation, as Petticrew intercepted the pass and was then fouled by Cox.
Petticrew, who finished with nine points, hit both of her foul shots and later added two more to give the Vikings the non-conference victory and their first in the five-game series since 1997.
SDSU finishes its non-conference schedule with the second game of the road trip, traveling to Sacramento State for a Saturday afternoon game in Sacramento, Calif., beginning at 2 p.m.