Jan. 4, 2005
SAN DIEGO - The visiting Canisius Golden Griffins broke open a close game with an 11-3 run over the final 4:11 to earn a 71-61 victory over San Diego State in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday night at Cox Arena. The Aztecs fell to 4-7 overall with the loss, while the Griffins improved to 5-6 in 2004-05, following the two schools' first-ever meeting.
Sophomore Michelle Elliott (Pasco, Wash.) paced SDSU with 17 points, including 5-of-8 from the three-point line, while senior Lindsey Casey (Odessa, Texas), juniors Veronica Shaw (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Michelle Strawberry (Corona, Calif.) and freshman Kate Eveland (Southlake, Texas) chipped in eight points apiece.
The Aztecs attempted a school record 28 three-pointers, making nine of them, including 7-of-15 in the first half (46.7 percent) alone. The 28 attempts are one more than the previous record set earlier this season in a win over Northern Colorado, when SDSU made 9-of-27 against the Bears.
While the Aztecs were hot from behind the arc through the first 27 minutes of the game, they were unable to convert on their final 10 attempts. Strawberry's triple at the 13:03 mark of the second half, which gave SDSU its largest lead at 49-42, would be her team's last of the night.
Despite the loss, the Aztecs committed a season-low nine turnovers, while causing 17 on the Canisius side. The Griffs shot 49 percent from the field, won the battle on the boards 44-29 and owned a plus-21 advantage in trips to the free-throw line.
Canisius raced out to an early 6-0 lead before a three-pointer by Strawberry got the Aztecs on the board at the 17:11 mark. SDSU tied the score at 12-12 and took its first lead of the game on back-to-back buckets by Casey at 16-14. The lead changed hands five more times in the first half with the Griffs going into the locker room up 34-33.
An Elliott three-pointer opened scoring for the Aztecs in the second half and a two-pointer off a Casey steal on the next possession put SDSU up for what would turn out to be the next 9:13. Canisius' Karly Chesko, however, reversed the tide by turning a two-point deficit at 53-51 into a one-point advantage by converting on three straight free throws. The Griffs would never relinquish the lead, claiming the 71-61 victory.
Canisius' Megan Lyte had a team-best 17 points and Jessica Steeves contributed a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.
San Diego State wraps up its pre-conference slate with a Friday night outing against Eastern Washington at 7 p.m. at Cox Arena.