March 8, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Highlights | Burns Postgame News Conference | Johnson Postgame | Davis Postgame
LAS VEGAS - The San Diego State women's basketball team twice battled back from a double-digit deficit in both the first and second half, making it just a one or two possession game, but ultimately was unable to complete the comeback, falling to New Mexico, 65-57, Tuesday at the 2011 Conoco Mountain West Conference Championships. The loss ended the Aztecs' 2010-11 campaign as they finished with a 12-17 overall record.
SDSU senior Paris Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) playing in her final collegiate outing, posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, her first in nine all-time MWC tournament games and the 22nd of her career. Classmate Coco Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) led the team in scoring with 15 points to go with her seven assists and tied a season-best with three triples in playing all 40 minutes. Junior Kalena Tutt (Long Beach, Calif.) contributed seven points and six boards in her second start of the season, while junior Sajoyia Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) also added seven points and four boards.
After a close opening three minutes, the Aztecs got a jumper from Tutt at the 16:56 mark to kick start a 6-0 run and build a seven-point advantage at 10-3. The Lobos answered with a 17-0 run, during which the Aztecs went nearly nine minutes without getting back on the scoreboard. Despite trailing by 10 points, SDSU came all the way back to make it just a two-point game on a triple from Davis at 25-23 with a shade over two minutes to go. UNM, however, got a jumper from freshman Jasmine Patterson to close out the half and head into the locker room up 27-23.
Tutt cut the deficit back down to just a pair on the first basket by either side after the break, but the Lobos answered with a lay-up and a triple from Amanda Best to move the score out to 32-25. New Mexico eventually went up by 10 points for the second time in the game at 43-33. The Aztecs failed to give up, bringing it back to within four points on two occasions with the latest coming on the second of two Johnson free throws with 4:06 left to play.
The 45-41 deficit would be as close as San Diego State would get, as the Lobos closed out the contest by making 15 of 16 free-throw attempts in the final 2:25 to earn the 65-57 victory, their first in three meetings with the Aztecs this season.
San Diego State made seven 3-pointers, its' most ever in a Mountain West Conference tournament outing, but shot only 35.7 percent overall from the field. The Aztecs had a +4 margin on the glass, including a 16-9 advantage in offensive rebounding. UNM ended the night making 22 of its 27 free-throw attempts (81.5 percent) and scored 26 points off SDSU turnovers.
The Lobos were led by Patterson's 21 points, while Best had 19 points and 11 rebounds in playing the entire game.
SDSU Postgame Notes
TEAM NOTES
* San Diego State finishes the year with a 12-17 overall record.
* San Diego State will not be a part of the MWC championship game for the first time in four seasons, after advancing to three straight title contests.
* Three of San Diego State's five starters - Kalena Tutt, Sajoyia Griffin and Courtney Clements - were making their first career MWC Championship starts.
* Despite the loss, the Aztecs outrebounded the Lobos, 35-31, held an advantage in points in the paint, 22-20, and second-chance points, 12-2.
PLAYER NOTES
* Paris Johnson (team-high 14 points, game-high 11 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, season-high 3 steals) - Posted her team-best seventh double-double of the season and her 22nd of her career... Her double-double, which was her first at the MWC Championship, was the team's first since Jessika Bradley had 11 points and 12 rebounds vs. Wyoming on March 10, 2010... Reached double figures in rebounding for the eighth time this season and 25th time of her career ... Scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season and for the 85th time in her career... Led the team in scoring for the 17th time in 2010-11... Matched her season best with three steals... Played in her 126th career ballgame, the third most in San Diego State history.
* Coco Davis (team-high 15 points, 2 rebounds, game-high 7 assists, 1 blocked shot) - Led the team in assists for the 24th time in 27 games this season... Posted her 19th game of the season with six or more assists... Logged six or more assists in each of her last five outings... Registered her sixth double-figure scoring perfomance of the season and the 14th of her career... Played the full 40 minutes for the second straight game and played 40-plus minutes for the 11th time this season.
* Kalena Tutt (7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists) - Earned her second starting assignment of the season and her first at the Mountain West Conference Championship... Scored seven points for the second straight game... Scored 14 points in the last two games, which is her highest two-game total since scoring a total of 16 points in back-to-back games vs. TCU and Utah.
* Gabrielle Clark (6 points, 2 rebounds) - Matched her career high after she connected on both of her three-point field-goal attempts... Tonight marked the fourth time in her career, and third time this year, in which she knocked down two three-pointers in a game.