Feb. 4, 2012
The San Diego State women's basketball team was limited to a season-low 39 points on just 23.4 percent shooting, as the Aztecs saw their 13-game win streak come to an end Saturday with a 58-39 loss at TCU. The defeat was the team's first in conference action, moving them to 7-1 in the league and 17-5 on the year, while the Horned Frogs improved to 12-11 and 5-3 in the MWC.
SDSU did not have a player score in double-figures with Malia Nahinu (Hayward, Calif.), Chelsea Hopkins (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Kalena Tutt (Long Beach, Calif.) all finishing with eight points apiece. The conference's leading scorer, Aztec Courtney Clements (Long Beach, Calif.) was limited to a season-low four points on 2-of-8 shooting after missing most of the first half with foul trouble.
SDSU freshman Chairese Culberson (Oakland, Calif.) recorded her second career double-figure rebounding effort with a team-high 10 rebounds, while Hopkins added seven to go with four assists and three steals.
After TCU scored the opening bucket, four different Aztecs accounted for the team's opening eight points. . The sides combined for only 13 points through the first 10 minutes of the game as each team shot below 30 percent and had 12 turnovers between them.
SDSU held an early four-point advantage at 6-2, but the Horned Frogs regained the lead by utilizing a 6-0 run as the Aztec offense went scoreless for just over four minutes. Hopkins ended the drought with a lay-up off a steal and a pair of free throws to put the visitors back ahead 16-15 with 1:34 remaining. SDSU's Erimma Amarikwa (Vacaville, Calif.) and TCU's Latricia Lovings combined for the final seven points of the first half, as the Aztecs went into the locker room in front by just a pair at 20-18.
The host squad came out of the break with a three-point play and the first triple by either side for its largest margin of the afternoon at 24-20. San Diego State finally got on the scoreboard on back-to-back baskets from Nahinu to tie the game at 24.
After it was even at 28-28, the Aztecs managed just one point over the next 7:11 as TCU went in front by 10 at 39-29. The Horned Frogs led by as many as 21 points before securing the 58-39 win.
San Diego State was unable to score from beyond the arc for the first time this season, going 0-for-17 in that category. The Aztecs owned a slight rebounding advantage and were +2 in turnovers, but TCU made 10-of-19 shots in the second half (52.6 percent) and was 20-for-24 at the stripe.
The Horned Frogs were led by Breisha Wynn's 16 points and Lovings' nine points and eight rebounds.
The Aztecs will have a week before their next game, as they play host to second-place UNLV on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. PT at Viejas Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game as it is SDSU's designated Play 4Kay day to raise awareness for breast cancer.