Nov. 5, 2013
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SAN DIEGO - Freshman Ariell Bostick (Oakland, Calif.) scored a game-high 17 points and senior Cierra Warren (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) contributed a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the San Diego State women's basketball team to a convincing 77-45 triumph over Cal State San Marcos in an exhibition clash Tuesday at Viejas Arena.
Senior Danesha Long (Long Beach, Calif.) also reached the double-digit scoring plateau with 10 points, while juniors Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.) and Chairese Culberson (Oakland, Calif.) tied for game-high honors with five assists apiece to help make a winner of Stacie Terry in her head coaching debut.
The two teams combined for 55 turnovers and 46 fouls in the ragged contest; however, SDSU persevered in part by maintaining a sizeable 51-22 advantage on the boards while outscoring the Cougars by a hefty 32-8 margin in the paint.
In addition, the Aztecs connected on 11 more field goals than CSUSM (26-15) and sank 11 more free throws (20-9) as all 10 players who saw action for the Scarlet and Black entered the scoring column.
SDSU found itself facing an 8-2 deficit early in the first half following a three-pointer by the Cougars' Cassie Damyanovich with just 2:24 elapsed on the clock. However, Warren converted an and-one opportunity, while Harvey found the bottom of the net from behind the arc to ignite a 19-0 blitz over the ensuing 6:29 to put the Aztecs firmly in control at 21-8.
Lynette Mackey ended CSUSM's scoring drought with a jumper at the 10:31 mark, but preseason Mountain West freshman of the year honoree Chloe Johnson (Phoenix, Ariz.) scored five straight points to spark a 22-3 outburst, which provided SDSU with a comfortable 41-13 cushion with 3:53 to go before intermission. The Aztecs also sank 6-of-7 free throws and forced four turnovers during that span as the contest turned into a runaway. Despite five consecutive points from the Cougars' Sherika Miller down the stretch, the Scarlet and Black still enjoyed a 42-23 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Aztecs capitalized on five straight errant shots by CSUSM to open the second half as a three-pointer by Long upped the host school's lead to 51-23 with four minutes gone by. SDSU ultimately increased the margin to over 30 points following a pair of free throws by redshirt sophomore Deidra Smith (Aurora, Colo.) and a basket by junior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.), which put SDSU in front 73-39 with 3:33 left in the contest.
Warren, who shot 6-for-9 from the field, also came up big defensively with four blocks, while the pesky Bostick delivered six of the team's 19 steals on the evening.
CSUSM was led by Damyanovich's 12 points, while Heather Thompson finished with eight points and five rebounds in the loss.
San Diego State opens its 2013-14 regular-season schedule on Sunday, Nov. 10, when it travels north to Sacramento State for a 2 p.m. PT tipoff.