Dec. 22, 2014
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team concludes its non-conference schedule on Tuesday when it travels north to battle UC Riverside at SRC Arena, beginning at 2 p.m. PT. A live audio stream will be available on GoAztecs.com, with Chris Ello handling play-by-play responsibilities. In addition, the Aztecs-Highlanders contest will feature streaming video courtesy of Big West TV.
SDSU (3-7) looks to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak, including a 65-54 defeat at the hands of CSUN at home in its last outing on Saturday. The Aztecs were led by junior Erimma Amarikwa's 14 points, while sophomore Chloe Johnson tied her career-high with 13 points and three steals. The Scarlet and Black also received a boost from sophomore Ariell Bostick, who scored 10 points for the second straight game after returning to the active roster following a severe knee injury last season.
Conversely, the Highlanders (6-4) have dropped four of their last five after opening the year with five consecutive wins. UCR fell to 3-1 at home this season after suffering a heartbreaking 74-71 loss to Washington on Saturday, as the Huskies rallied from a 17-point deficit early in the second half.
Despite the relative proximity of both schools, SDSU will be facing the Highlanders for just the eighth time in school history. The Aztecs have won three straight in the series and own a 5-2 advantage all-time. Last season, SDSU overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half to escape with a 58-57 victory at Viejas Arena in the opening game of the San Diego Surf `N Slam. The Aztecs also emerged triumphant in their last visit to the Inland Empire with a 66-59 decision in December of 2009 and are 2-1 overall on UCR's home floor.
Tuesday's matchup with the Highlanders will be SDSU's fourth and final encounter with a Big West school this season, while the Aztecs represent UCR's fourth Mountain West opponent of the year. Earlier, the Highlanders dispatched San José State (100-80) and New Mexico (70-62) before falling to Fresno State (73-61). Despite previous losses to Long Beach State and CSUN this year, SDSU has still captured 14 of its last 17 meetings against current members of the Big West, including a 64-58 win over UCSB at home on Dec. 7.
Entering the week, the Aztecs find themselves among the top half of the MW in three-point field goal percentage defense (2nd - .284), rebounding defense (3rd - 36.3/gm) and rebounding margin (5th - (+2.6)). Individually, Hunter (6.4/gm) and Amarikwa (6.3/gm) occupy the 11th and 12th spots in the conference in rebounding.
Following Tuesday's clash with UCR, San Diego State will break for the Christmas holiday before opening Mountain West play at Air Force on Wednesday, Dec. 31, starting at noon MT/11 a.m. PT.