Nov. 29, 2007
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The San Diego State women's basketball team outscored Cal Poly 42-27 in the second half to rally from a nine-point deficit, as the Aztecs improved to 5-1 overall with an 80-70 victory over the Mustangs Thursday at Mott Gym. SDSU owned a 20-12 advantage on the offensive glass and made eight three-pointers for its seventh consecutive win over Cal Poly, which dropped to 3-4 in 2007-08.
Aztec point guard Quenese Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) scored 14 of her team-high 21 points in the second half, matching the best offensive output of her career. Davis converted 11 of her 12 free-throw attempts and added four rebounds and four steals. Three other SDSU players finished in double-figure points, including freshman center Paris Johnson (17 points), sophomore guard Jené Morris (11 pts.) and freshman forward Allison Duffy (10 pts.).
The Aztecs shot 39.7 percent from the field for the second game in a row, but countered with 26 second-chance points and recorded a season-best 88 percent performance (22-for-25) at the stripe. SDSU matched its best start since 1995-96 with five wins in its first six outings following its final non-conference road game of 2007-08.
After Cal Poly scored the first bucket to begin the night, the Aztecs reeled off six straight points to jump ahead 6-2. The Mustangs ended the run with a pair of free throws, but SDSU scored four more on back-to-back baskets by Johnson. Cal Poly put together its own offensive string, recording eight straight points to take a 12-10 advantage.
The schools traded leads four more times, before Cal Poly jumped ahead for the rest of the half, going up by as many as nine at 39-30, before heading into the locker room up five, 43-38. The Mustangs ended the half shooting 58.3 percent from the field and made 13 of their 14 free-throws (92.9 percent).
After Cal Poly once again opened the half with the first two points, SDSU responded with a triple by Davis, followed by two straight lay ups from Johnson to tie the game at 45-45.
Trailing by one, the Aztecs nailed back-to-back three-pointers to gain their first lead since early in the first half at 53-49. SDSU would go up by six on two occasions, before running out to the largest advantage of the night by either side at 67-57, following two Davis free throws.
Cal Poly made it interesting by getting to within six at 67-61 with just over three minutes left, but SDSU got four straight points from Allison Duffy and made 7-of-8 free-throws in the final 1:28 to secure the 80-70 win.
The Mustangs were led by Megan Harrison's career-best 34 points on 13-for-16 shooting from the floor. Harrison scored 20 of her 34 points in the first half and also added a team-best nine boards.
San Diego State heads back to San Diego for a month-long homestand beginning Sunday, against Cal State Fullerton at 2 p.m. at Cox Arena. The Aztecs, along with the San Diego County Office of Education, will help celebrate Girls and Women in Sports Day on Dec. 2, with numerous activities, featuring all 11 of SDSU's women's athletic programs.