Nov. 10, 2013
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Despite a valiant comeback effort, the San Diego State women's basketball team dropped a tough 93-89 decision to Sacramento State in a wild 2013-14 regular-season opener Sunday afternoon at The Nest.
Senior transfer Cierra Warren (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) posted a game-high 28 points on 14-of 19 shooting in her first outing in an Aztec uniform, but it wasn't enough as SDSU (0-1) was victimized by 34 turnovers and yielded a program-high 18 three-point field goals to the Hornets (2-0), spoiling the debut of Aztec head coach Stacie Terry.
SDSU used its size to outscore Sacramento State by a whopping 66-24 margin in the paint, while maintaining a 51-44 advantage on the boards. However, the Hornets displayed their hustle on the offensive glass, owning a 21-8 spread in that category, which translated into a 17-10 edge in second-chance points. The host school also capitalized on the Aztecs' aforementioned miscues with a swarming press, posting 33-15 advantage in points off turnovers, including a 24-4 margin in the first half.
Still, SDSU managed to transform an overwhelming 50-31 first-period deficit into an 85-80 lead with four minutes to go in the game.
The Scarlet and Black began its long road back with a 10-2 run just before intermission as senior Danesha Long (Long Beach, Calif.) connected on a pair of baskets, while junior Chairese Culberson's (Oakland, Calif.) layup at the horn found the bottom of the net, trimming the Hornet advantage to 52-41.
San Diego State maintained the momentum coming out of the locker room with a 16-5 spurt over the first seven minutes of the second half, ultimately tying the game at 57-57 following a pair of Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.) free throws.
After Sacramento State built a pair of four-point leads over the ensuing two minutes, the Aztecs knotted the score once again at 64-64 after back-to-back layups by Warren and Long. Moments later, the Hornets responded with a three-pointer by Hallie Gennett and a jumper by Fantasia Hilliard to reclaim a 69-64 bulge at the 9:17 mark.
SDSU would not fold; however, as consecutive treys by freshman Ariell Bostick (Oakland, Calif.) and Long capped a 16-8 surge to give the visitors their just their second lead of the contest at 80-77 with 5:41 left on the clock. A foul shot by Hilliard and a layup by Andrea Chenier brought the hosts back to even, before the Aztecs countered with a Warren bucket and an old-fashioned three-point play by junior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.), which provided the Aztecs their largest cushion of the day at 85-80 with four minutes to play.
However, SDSU was unable to give itself additional breathing room as the Hornets' Alle Moreno and Takara Burse buried a pair of long-range three-pointers, sandwiched around a Warren layup, to keep Sacramento State within one at 87-86 with 1:25 remaining. Warren converted another basket in the lane on the Aztecs' next possession, but Moreno quickly stole SDSU's thunder with another deep trey and drew contact on the shot. The Hornet guard promptly sank the foul shot to complete the four-point play, giving the host school the lead for good, 90-89 with 55 seconds on the clock.
Moments later, Moreno went back to the charity stripe after getting fouled following a steal off an Aztec offensive rebound and drained one of two free throws to increase Sacramento State's lead to 91-89 with 22 ticks remaining. On SDSU's next possession, Warren's layup attempt came up short with 12 seconds to go after the Aztec center was hounded in the paint, while Chenier connected on two subsequent free throws to seal the win.
In addition to Warren's performance, which included seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals, Long finished with a career-highs of 13 points and seven boards, while Bostick contributed 11 points, eight assists and four steals in her collegiate debut.
Conversely, Sacramento State was paced by Moreno's 23 points, which featured a 6-for-9 effort from three-point range. Three other Hornets surpassed the double-digit scoring plateau, including Chenier 17 pts.), Gigi Hascheff (14 pts.) and Sadie Clements (10 pts.).
Sacramento State was 18-of-49 from beyond the arc as a team, including a 12-for-31 clip in the first half when the Hornets broke open a tight 15-13 game with a 35-18 blitz to forge a 50-31 advantage by the 2:50 mark.
San Diego State returns to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 13, when it faces USC in another road clash beginning at 4 p.m. PT.