Nov. 16, 2014
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SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team wrapped up its two-game homestand on a sour note Sunday, dropping a 74-62 decision to Long Beach State at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs were unable to overcome a rash of turnovers and a sizable first-half run by the 49ers to fall to 1-1 on the young season.
SDSU maintained a 37-33 rebounding advantage and a slim 34-32 margin on points in the paint; however, LBSU (2-0) scored 32 points off 27 Aztec mioscues and owned a 23-13 edge in second-chance points. In addition, the 49ers sank 10-of 11 free-throw attempts, compared to SDSU's 9-for-18 effort, to help fuel their win.
Individually, freshman McKynzie Fort (Fontana, Calif.) led the Aztecs with 15 points, but was limited to just three in the second half, while senior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.) added 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
SDSU enjoyed its biggest lead of the afternoon at 11-5 following a three-pointer by Chairese Culberson (Oakland, Calif.) at the 13:39 mark of the first half. However, the host school its momentum short-circuited by nine turnovers over the ensuing five-plus minutes, as LBSU unleashed a 21-2 blitz to seize control of the scoreboard at 26-13 with 8:27 remaining in the period. The 49ers' Lauren Spargo scored 10 of her game-high 16 points during that span, including a pair of triples.
Trailing 44-32 at halftime, SDSU could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way after freshman Cheyenne Greenhouse's (Riverside, Calif.) layup in the opening minute of the second period. LBSU eventually increased the margin to 23 points on three occasions, including a 71-48 spread following Halle Meneses' layup with 3:14 left in the game.
The Aztecs put together one last run, outscoring the 49ers 14-3 down the stretch, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.
In addition to Spargo's performance, LBSU received 12 points apiece from Anna Kim and Alex Sanchez, while Meneses dished out a game-high seven assists to help snap SDSU's five-game winning streak in the all-time series between the two schools.
The Aztecs will now embark on a four-game road swing over the next nine days, starting Friday, Nov. 21, when they square off against Furman in Greenville, S.C. Opening tip is slated for 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.