Nov. 14, 2006
SAN DIEGO - Nevada used a 16-2 run coming out of halftime to hand the San Diego State women's basketball team a 68-62 loss Tuesday evening at Cox Arena in the Aztecs' 2006-07 season-opener. SDSU, which dressed just eight players, was unable to overcome its 26 turnovers and fell to 0-1 on the year, while Nevada improved to 2-0 overall.
"We knew coming in that we were going to face (a press) for 40 minutes, and that's something that you can prepare for to a degree," Aztec head coach Beth Burns said. "But you have to tip your cap to Nevada, they really stuck to what they do best and that was the difference in the game. They were a little bit tougher, stronger and more experienced down the stretch. We made a wonderful comeback and made some shots, but this is going to be a great game for us to watch and learn from."
The host got a team-high 18 points and 12 rebounds from junior transfer Jennifer Layton (Sacramento, Calif.). Quenese Davis (Sacramento, Calif.), the fourth true freshman to start at the point for SDSU in as many seasons, fell one rebound short of a triple-double, tallying 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Senior Desiree Johnson (Kahuku, Hawaii) was the third Aztec in double-figures with 10 points and three blocks in 26 minutes of action.
SDSU led by as many as six points mid-way through the first half, but the game was tied at 30 points apiece heading into the locker room. After Layton scored the first bucket, the Wolf Pack took advantage of seven Aztec turnovers in the next four and a half minutes to go up by 14 points at 46-32 with 12:49 remaining.
The Aztecs would cut the deficit in half with just over four minutes left to play and got back to within just three with 20 seconds to go at 65-62. Nevada, however, made four of its six free-throws in the final minute and secured the victory with a fast-break lay-up off an inbound pass to end the game, 68-62.
Nevada, which as a team shot 87 percent at the line, had four players in double-figures, led by guard Dellena Criner, who had 24 points, five steals and was a perfect 10-for-10 on her free-throws.
The Aztecs continue their season-opening homestand Friday at 7 p.m. at Cox Arena against UC Davis. The match-up will be the two schools' third meeting in the last two seasons with the all-time series tied a one game apiece. SDSU then plays its first road contest at rival University of San Diego on Sunday. Channel 4 San Diego will carry the game live from Jenny Craig Pavilion beginning at 2 p.m.
All regular-season SDSU women's basketball contests will have live audio and video (home games only) on the internet free of charge via the school's official website, www.goaztecs.com.