Nov. 29, 2014
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GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico - The San Diego State women's basketball team concluded its nine-day odyssey on Saturday with a 70-50 setback to Michigan in the 2014 San Juan Shootout at Mario Morales Coliseum.
The Aztecs (2-4) were unable to withstand the Wolverines' lethal combination of Siera Thompson and Katelynn Flaherty, who combined for 48 points and 11 three-point field goals on the afternoon.
In addition, SDSU was once again bitten by the turnover bug, as Michigan (5-1) converted 19 miscues into 22 points to help secure its victory. Despite owning a 22-14 advantage in the paint, the Aztecs were also outrebounded by a 35-23 margin, including a 13-6 spread on the offensive glass.
As a team, SDSU shot 42.2 percent from the field (19-45), compared to the Wolverines' 45.1 percent clip (23-51). However, Michigan did most of its damage from long range, draining 12 of 23 three-pointers (52.2 percent) to keep the Aztecs in pursuit mode throughout the game.
Individually, Thompson finished with a game-high 25 points, featuring a 5-for-9 performance from beyond the arc while sinking all eight of her free-throw attempts. Flaherty was equally devastating to the SDSU psyche after totaling 23 points, highlighted by a 6-for-10 effort from three-point territory, while teammate Cyesha Goree posted game highs of eight rebounds and four steals.
Conversely, freshman Cheyenne Greenhouse (Riverside, Calif.) was the lone Aztec in double figures, collecting 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with four rebounds, while senior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.) contributed nine points and five boards of her own.
SDSU, which never led in the contest, found itself facing a pair of 15-point deficits in the first half, including a 32-17 spread at the 6:17 mark following Flaherty's second triple of the day. However, the Aztecs gradually climbed back into contention, fashioning a 16-7 spurt over the remainder of the period to pull within 39-33 by intermission. Junior Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.) and sophomore Aleiah Brandon (Corona, Calif.) each buried a triple during that span, while Greenhouse added an old-fashioned three-point play to help resuscitate SDSU's fortunes.
The Aztecs sustained their new-found momentum in the early moments of the second half, as two Hunter free throws and a layup by sophomore Chloe Johnson (Phoenix, Ariz.) brought the Scarlet and Black to within striking distance at 39-37 with 16:50 remaining. However, SDSU's long haul back into contention was quickly subdued after Michigan unleashed an 11-1 blitz over the ensuing four minutes to seize control of the game. Goree sparked the run with a three-point play, while Flaherty drained a pair of treys on consecutive possessions.
The Aztecs trimmed the margin to single digits on three occasions, including a 57-48 spread following a Brandon jumper with 7:23 to go. However, Michigan responded with three quick triples by Flaherty, Madison Ristovski and Thompson to extinguish SDSU's faint comeback hopes. The Aztecs didn't help their own cause down the stretch either, connecting on just one of their final eight field goal attempts while committing two turnovers.
San Diego State will have the next eight days off before playing host to UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Viejas Arena. Game time is set for 2 p.m. PT.