Nov. 10, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Paris Johnson scored a game-high 22 points and five other Aztecs finished in double-figures to help the San Diego State women's basketball team defeat Showtime Basketball Australia, 87-46, in an exhibition game Monday evening at Cox Arena.
"It's exciting for all of us to get a dry run in before it's for keeps on Friday night," SDSU head coach Beth Burns said. "Our biggest goal (tonight) was to gain confidence and get a chance to play someone else other than ourselves. Everyone did something well and we had a lot of young players (log) some minutes for the first time."
Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) scored 16 of her 22 points in the first half and also added nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals in only 22 minutes. Senior Jennifer Layton-Bailes (Sacramento, Calif.) had nine boards to go with her 14 points. Guards Quenese Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) and Coco Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) combined for 15 of the team's 25 assists and seven of the 18 steals.
The Aztecs shot 50.7 percent from the floor and owned a plus-26 margin in the rebounding column, while forcing Showtime Basketball Australia into 30 turnovers.
SDSU led the entire game, scoring the first two buckets on a layup by Johnson and a jumper from Coco Davis. After Showtime Basketball Australia closed to within one at 8-7, the Aztecs outscored them 11-2 over the next five minutes and were ahead 47-18 at the half.
San Diego State continued their dominance in the paint in the second half, outscoring the visitors 52-16 for the game, to coast to the 87-46 victory.
Showtime Basketball Australia was led by Kate Webb's 13 points and Serena Benavente's 11 points.
San Diego State officially opens its season at home on Friday against first-time opponent Northwestern State at 7 p.m. at Cox Arena. It is the Aztecs' lone home game during the month of November. Live audio, video and stats will be available the school's official website, www.goaztecs.com.