Feb. 23, 2013
RENO, Nev. - The San Diego State women's basketball team received double-digit scoring totals from three players and utilized yet another stellar defensive effort en route to its 12th straight victory, defeating host Nevada by a 58-45 count on Saturday at Lawlor Events Center. With the win, the Aztecs maintain their two-game lead in the Mountain West standings with three left to play in the regular season, improving to 21-5 overall and 12-1 in conference action, while the Wolf Pack slip to 7-18 and 2-10 in the MW.
SDSU was led by senior Courtney Clements (Long Beach, Calif.), who tossed in a game-high 21 points, including 13 in the first half, while sophomore Erimma Amarikwa (Vacaville, Calif.) and senior Chelsea Hopkins (Las Vegas, Nev.) completed double-doubles. Amarikwa totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass, while Hopkins contributed 13 points and set a career high with 14 boards of her own to go with three assists and three steals.
Despite shooting just 35.5 percent from the floor (22-62), the Aztecs limited Nevada to a 25.9 field-goal percentage (14-54) and owned a 47-35 rebounding advantage. SDSU also came up with seven blocks, including three rejections by sophomore Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.), who matched her collegiate best.
The Aztecs led throughout the contest, save for a 7-7 tie, employing a 19-4 surge over a seven-minute span to build a 26-11 cushion with 6:09 remaining in the first half. Clements fueled the outburst with eight points, including a pair of triples, while sophomore Chairese Culberson (Oakland, Calif.) sank four free throws. The Wolf Pack eventually trimmed the margin to 11 on a pair of jumpers by Chanelle Brennan, but Clements nailed a basket with 34 seconds left to put SDSU up 30-17 at intermission.
Following the break, Nevada climbed back into contention with a 15-7 spurt, capped by two Danika Sharp foul shots, to narrow the gap to 38-32 by the 13:54 mark. However, the Aztecs unleashed a 13-2 blitz over the ensuing six-and-a-half minutes to take control. The Scarlet and Black took advantage of six straight Wolf Pack misses from the field during the decisive run, while Amarikwa tallied nine points, converting a three-point play with 7:33 remaining to put SDSU in front 51-34. Sharp drilled a 3-pointer on the Nevada's next possession, but baskets by Hopkins and junior Kiyana Stamps (Moreno Valley, Calif.), sandwiched around a Wolf Pack free throw, effectively put the game out of reach.
Brennan paced Nevada with 17 points, including an 8-for-8 performance at the charity stripe, while Sharp finished with 10 points in the loss.
The Aztecs return home to face New Mexico on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Viejas Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m. PT.