Feb. 19, 2011
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team scored 32 points in the paint and 23 off turnovers to avenge a loss earlier this season to visiting Air Force with a 68-50 victory Saturday afternoon at Viejas Arena. With the win, SDSU claimed its fourth outing in a row, improving to 12-13 overall and 6-7 in league action and moving into fourth place in the Mountain West Conference standings. The Falcons, meanwhile, dropped to 8-17 overall and 3-9 in conference play.
The Aztecs got 22 points from senior Paris Johnson (San Diego, Calif.), who went 10-for-17 from the field and added seven boards in making her school-record tying 122nd consecutive start. Sophomore Courtney Clements (Long Beach, Calif.) was 3-for-4 from beyond the arc and scored 12 points, while senior Jessika Bradley (Sacramento, Calif.) notched eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Guard Coco Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) contributed nine of the team's 20 assists and matched the team season high with five steals.
San Diego State never trailed in the game, opening with a 6-0 run until Air Force scored its first points at the free-throw line at the 14:46 mark. The Falcons twice cut their deficit down to a pair, but the Aztecs pushed their advantage into double figures at 18-8 and would lead by as many 14 heading into the locker room at 31-17.
After getting a lay-up and a 3-pointer to open the second half, SDSU looked to be cruising to an easy victory up 36-17. Air Force, however, had other ideas at it continued to press and finally get some offensive production, cutting the Aztecs lead all the way down to only 10 points on a pair of free throws with just over 11 minutes remaining.
A rare 3-pointer from Johnson out of the left corner restored some order to bring the lead back up to 13 points a minute later and the closest the Falcons would get again would be 11 points at 46-35. San Diego State then went on a 6-0 run and moved out to a 20-point lead with 3:23 left to play before settling for the 68-50 victory.
The Aztecs shot 50 percent from the field and tallied 10 steals for the second consecutive outing. Air Force posted just a 33.3 field-goal percentage, including a 19.0 mark in the first half, did not convert a 3-pointer (0-for-4) and committed 23 turnovers.
The Falcons were led by Alicia Leipprandt's 16 points, while leading scorer Raimee Beck was limited to only two all at the charity stripe.
The Aztecs have a week to prepare for their next contest, a road outing at first-place Brigham Young in Provo, Utah, next Saturday. Tip time in scheduled for 2 p.m. PT at the Marriott Center.