Jan. 24, 2009
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SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team held visiting BYU to just two points in a span of over 14 and a half minutes, as the Aztecs' defense once again led the way in a 56-36 win Saturday in front of 2,792 fans at Cox Arena. With the victory, SDSU improved to 13-4 overall and won its 11th consecutive home game (9-0 in 2008-09) dating back to last season. The Aztecs moved to 4-1 in conference action, while BYU dropped to 13-4 overall and 3-2 in the MWC.
"For us to be able to have a little home court advantage {with the large home crowd], it just gives us a little bounce," said SDSU head coach Beth Burns. "It's been a long week, but obviously a very fun and productive week. We struggled a little bit offensively to find some rhythm today and were a little bit sloppy with the ball early, but fortunately we can guard people.
"BYU is a team that can win the league. It's a long conference season and we don't have time to relax with TCU right around the corner. For us to continue to separate ourselves (from the pack), though, is huge."
Aztec sophomore center Paris Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) notched a double-double for the second consecutive outing and her seventh of the season, posting a game-high 15 points and 11 rebounds to go with three blocked shots in only 27 minutes. Fellow front court member Jennifer Layton-Bailes (Sacramento, Calif.) made her first five shots from the field, including two triples, to end up with 14 points. Junior Jené Morris (San Francisco, Calif.) scored all 12 of her points in the second half, while Quenese Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) added six boards and a team-best five assists.
The game started off as a close one, as both teams turned it up on the defensive side with each forcing turnovers. San Diego State, though, managed to lead the entire way, making the first two baskets of the game and holding a six-point advantage on two occasions in the first five minutes.
BYU got to within a single point at the 13:45 mark on a Shawnee Slade three-pointer, her team's only triple of the game, at 10-9. A Layton-Bailes jumper, however, quickly put the home team in front by three once again at 13-9.
Both sides struggled to put points on the board, until San Diego State went on an 8-0 run to end the first half for a 27-15 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Aztecs continued to contain the BYU offense, as SDSU gave up just one bucket through the first eight and a half minutes of the second half to cruise out to a 24-point advantage at 41-17. The Cougars finally broke their drought with a pair of free throws, but didn't get to 25 points until just over five minutes remaining. San Diego State went on to claim the 56-36 win in front of the second-largest crowd in Cox Arena women's basketball history.
BYU shot only 23.5 percent from the field and made only five field-goals in the second half, scoring their fewest points in the 36-game series. SDSU won the rebounding battle, 43-33, and shot 41.8 percent for its second consecutive home victory over BYU.
Cougar Sara Hostetter came off the bench to score nine points, while Mindy Nielson had six steals in the loss.
San Diego State will once again hit the road for a mid-week game Wednesday evening at TCU in Ft. Worth, Texas, beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT. The game will be televised live on The Mtn., while Chris Ello will have the live audio call on SDSU's official website, www.goaztecs.com.