March 10, 2014
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
LAS VEGAS -
San Diego State-Air Force Final Box
Behind Cierra Warren's 20-point, 11-rebound performance, sixth-seeded San Diego State defeated 11th-seeded Air Force, 63-56, in the first round of the 2014 Reese's Mountain West Championship on Monday night at Thomas & Mack Center.
Both teams shot extremely well in the first half (SDSU 54.2 percent, AFA 50.0 percent), which kept the game tight. In fact, the Falcons led by as many as six points early in the game before the Aztecs began to find their rhythm late in the period. A layup by Air Force's Madeleine Philpot gave the Falcons a 27-22 with 5:46 to go, but a 9-0 SDSU run started by Warren gave the designated home team a four-point lead. AFA, however, closed the final 70 seconds by scoring four of the game next six points to cut San Diego State's lead to 33-31 at halftime.
In the second half, SDSU asserted itself at times, jumping out to significant leads. The Aztecs extended their lead to seven right out of the gate, only to have Air Force get to within two. Later, SDSU enjoyed a 43-40 lead after a Falcon bucket, but answered with seven straight points to move ahead by 10.
But just as it appeared the Aztecs would run away, Air Force battled back by scoring 10 consecutive points of its own to knot the score at 50 with 5:24 to play. Similar to earlier, however, SDSU went Warren layup, Danesha Long three-ball, Deajanae Scurry layup and then a Warren layup, and all of a sudden the Aztecs were up, 59-50.
Down the stretch in the final minute of the game, Air Force made it a two-possession game on three different occasions, but San Diego State answered on the immediate possession after to keep the Falcons at a safe distance.
SDSU held the Falcons to 29.4 percent shooting in the second half and 37.9 percent for the game. The Aztecs also forced Air Force into committing 13 turnovers.
Joining Warren in double figures was Long, who finished with 14 points, and Khristina Hunter, who registered 10 points and five rebounds. Scurry, meanwhile, grabbed a career-high 13 points and added seven points, three assists and three steals.
San Diego State now advances to the quarterfinal round where third-seeded Nevada awaits. The quarterfinal game is set to tip at 8:30 p.m. PT inside Thomas & Mack Center and will air on the Mountain West Network.