Dec. 22, 2005
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team saw its short two-game win streak come to an end against a strong Pittsburgh squad, as the Panthers defeated the Aztecs 78-56, Thursday afternoon at Cox Arena. With the loss, SDSU fell to 2-6 on the season, while Pittsburgh improved to 9-2 overall following the two schools' first meeting in almost a decade.
The Aztecs were led by senior Michelle Strawberry (Corona, Calif.), who scored 16 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and also added a team-best five rebounds. It is her fourth straight game in double-figure scoring and her seventh overall this season.
Strawberry was helped by senior Desiree Johnson's (Kahuku, Hawaii) 10 points, while freshman Tamika Lipford (Oceanside, Calif.) contributed a career-high nine points and seven assists. Lipford has combined for 22 assists in her last three outings.
Pittsburgh opened the game with an 8-0 run before SDSU got on the board at the 16:23 mark on a jumper by freshman Jana Heinrich (Fishbach, Germany). The Aztecs cut the deficit to three points exactly four minutes later on Lipford's jumper at 12-9, but Pittsburgh used its height and strong presence on the offensive glass to lead by 16 points at the half, 36-20.
SDSU would close the gap to as few as 13 points in the second half on two occasions at 48-35 and 49-36, but Pittsburgh went on a 13-6 run over the next five and a half minutes to go up by 20 points, eventually winning by a 22-point margin at 78-56.
The Panthers were led by San Diego native Mallorie Winn's 22 points, while center Marcedes Walker had 20 points, 15 rebounds and six steals in 32 minutes of action.
SDSU takes three days off before returning to campus to prepare for the San Diego Surf `N Slam, Dec. 28 and 30, at Cox Arena. Auburn and UC Davis open the first day of action at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Aztecs' game with Loyola College at 7:30 p.m. A consolation and championship game will be held on Friday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.