Dec. 30, 2005
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team hit eight three-pointers and limited UC Davis to a season-low point total to defeat the visiting Aggies, 59-45, Friday evening in the consolation game of the San Diego Surf `N Slam at Cox Arena. With the victory, the Aztecs (3-7) avenged a 58-36 loss to the Aggies (5-7) earlier this season back on Dec. 3 in Davis, Calif.
SDSU had four-players in double-figures for the first time this season, as Veronica Shaw (Pheonix, Ariz.) had a team-high 14 points, while sophomore Kate Eveland (Southlake, Texas) came off the bench with her best performance of the year, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in 33 minutes of action. Senior Michelle Strawberry (Corona, Calif.) reached double-figures in scoring for the ninth time this year with 12 points, while sophomore Shanna Demus (Palmdale, Calif.) had 11 points.
The Aztec dominated the boards with a plus-10 margin (37-27), getting 10 rebounds from junior Desiree Johnson (Kahuku, Hawaii) and seven from Demus.
SDSU's key to victory on the offensive side came from beyond the arc with the Aztecs erupting for eight three-pointers by three different players. The eight threes were half of the team's previous season total, as SDSU was 16-for-92 (17.4 percent) from three-point land entering the night.
The Aztecs took an early 10-3 lead to begin the game, before going into the half up by four at 26-22. The advantage grew immediately coming out of the locker room with SDSU going on a 7-0 run capped by an Eveland triple to push ahead by 11 points at 33-22.
UC Davis rallied to get to within three at 38-35 with 9:49 left, but a three-pointer by Shaw 40 seconds later immediately doubled the SDSU advantage. The Aztecs made all eight of its free throws in the final 2:39 to cruise to an eventual 14-point victory, 59-45.
The Aggies were a perfect 12-for-12 from the line, but shot just 31.9 percent from the field, including 8-for-28 in the second half. UC Davis was led by Jackie Turpin's 15 points and seven rebounds.
Following the Surf `N Slam championship game, which saw Auburn dominate Loyola College, 76-54, two SDSU players, seniors Shaw and Strawberry, were named to the six-member all-tournament squad. The remaining selections included Auburn's DeWanna Bonner (MVP) and Nitasha Brown, Loyola's Lauren Troupe and UC Davis' Turpin.
San Diego State heads into conference play next week as the Aztecs travel to Colorado State on Thursday for a 7 p.m. MT contest with the Rams. SDSU will then head home to play host to Air Force on Saturday, with tip-off set for 2 p.m. PT.
2005 San Diego Surf `N Slam (Dec. 30 - Cox Arena)
Consolation Game: San Diego State def. UC Davis, 59-45
Championship Game: Auburn def. Loyola College, 76-54
All-Tournament Team
UC Davis - Jackie Turpin
San Diego State - Michelle Strawberry, Veronica Shaw
Loyola - Lauren Troupe
Auburn - DeWanna Bonner (MVP), Nitasha Brown