Dec. 20, 2004
SAN DIEGO - The visiting UC Riverside Highlanders broke open a tight game with a 22-8 closing run in the final five minutes to claim a 65-53 win over San Diego State in non-conference women's basketball action Monday night at Cox Arena. With the loss, the Aztecs fell to 3-4 overall, while the Highlanders improved to 3-4, following their first contest in the last 15 days.
Senior Lindsey Casey (Odessa, Texas) and freshman Ashley Cheesman (Orem, Utah) led San Diego State with 12 points each. Casey also added a team-best seven rebounds and four steals, while all nine Aztecs to see minutes scored at least two points.
San Diego State was outshot from the field, 47.9 percent to 31.8, and outrebounded by a 45-26 margin. Despite those numbers, the youthful Aztecs held a 45-43 lead with five minutes left. SDSU, however, would score just six points over the next 4:30 as UC Riverside claimed the game with the decisive closing run.
SDSU forced the visitors into 26 turnovers, including 15 in the first half, to have a chance down the stretch. In the decisive second half, the Highlanders shot 57.7 percent from the floor and for the game, UCR was also on target from the free-throw line, connecting on 15 of its 17 attempts.
Agy Frankovits led UCR with 18 points, while Casandra Reeves added 17.
SDSU heads to Dallas, Texas, Tuesday morning for a Wednesday night match-up at SMU at 7 p.m. (CST). The Aztecs then play their final non-conference road game at Kansas on Dec. 28, before heading home for four straight contests.