Dec. 19, 2012
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SAN DIEGO - Five players scored in double figures for the San Diego State women's basketball team as the Aztecs came away with a convincing 90-41 triumph over Fresno Pacific on Wednesday at Viejas Arena. Sophomore Erimma Amarikwa tied her career high with 16 points to help SDSU (7-3) secure its third straight victory and keep the Sunbirds (0-10) winless on the year.
Amarikwa shot 7-for-10 on the evening and added seven rebounds, while seniors Courtney Clements (17 pts.), Malia Nahinu (13 pts.) and sophomore Khristina Hunter (12 pts.) also joined in on the offensive bonanza for the Aztecs, who posted their highest scoring game since putting up 91 points against Navy at home on Dec. 18, 2007. Not to be outdone, senior Chelsea Hopkins notched her second straight double-double after finishing with 10 points and a collegiate-best 13 assists.
As a team, SDSU recorded season bests of 36 field goals made and 54 rebounds, with Nahinu tying for game-high honors with eight caroms. The Aztecs also came up big defensively, limiting FPU to 24 percent shooting (15-63), including an 18 percent clip (6-34) in the second half.
SDSU had its transition game working early in the first half as four consecutive layups, including one by Clements at the 14:41 mark, provided the host school an 18-4 cushion. The Sunbirds cut the deficit to single digits on two occasions over the next 4:41, including a 24-16 spread following a Keairra White jumper with 10 minutes left before intermission. On the ensuing possession, however, freshman Aleiah Brandon tallied her first basket in a scarlet and black uniform to spark a 22-11 run, giving the Aztecs a 46-27 advantage heading into the locker room.
SDSU kept firing on all cylinders, opening with a 17-0 run over the first 5:42 of the second half as the game quickly turned into a runaway. In all, 11 out of 12 Aztecs who saw playing time on Wednesday contributed to the final point total.
Conversely, White had 15 points to pace FPU, while Charde Stevens added seven points and eight rebounds in the defeat.
The Aztecs will have nine days off before playing host to the eighth annual San Diego Surf `N Slam Classic at Viejas Arena. SDSU will square off against SMU on Friday, Dec. 28, starting at 5 p.m., while the other first-round matchup tips off at 7 p.m., featuring nationally ranked Oklahoma State and Harvard. On Sunday, Dec. 30, the consolation game gets underway at 12 noon, followed by the championship final at 2 p.m.