Dec. 31, 2014
Final Stats | Final Stats in PDF Format
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The San Diego State women's basketball team opened its Mountain West schedule on Wednesday with a 74-65 comeback victory on the road over the Air Force Academy at Clune Arena. Trailing by five in the second half, the Aztecs employed a 15-0 run over a span of six minutes to seize control of the game and help snap their four-game losing streak.
SDSU (4-8, 1-0 MW) had three players finish in double figures, led by freshman McKynzie Fort (Fontana, Calif.), who scored 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting, followed by junior Erimma Amarikwa (Vacaville, Calif.), who notched 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while fellow classmate Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.) finished with 13 points, including a 5-for-6 effort at the free-throw line.
Despite losing senior forward Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.), the team's leading rebounder, to an ankle sprain in practice earlier in the week, the Aztecs still maintained a sizeable 38-20 advantage on points in the paint and a 42-35 spread on the boards. In addition, the SDSU bench outscored Falcon reserves by a whopping 32-2 margin to help secure the win.
On the flip side, Air Force (1-11, 0-1 MW) was paced by the trio of Lindsey Lewis, Jimi Blagowsky and Cortney Porter, who combined for 50 of the team's 65 ponts. Lewis led all scorers with 20 points, sinking 9 of 12 field-goal attempts, while Blagowsky racked up a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists to go with a game-high four steals. In addition, Porter contributed 13 points of her own while collecting seven rebounds to tie Dee Bennett for the team lead.
The Aztecs led throughout the first half, save for three ties, eventually building a pair of 11-point advantages, including a 39-28 spread following a Fort layup at the 2:43 mark to cap a 5-0 spurt. However, the Falcons stole SDSU's momentum, scoring the final two baskets of the period on a jumper by Madeleine Philpot and a Porter layup. Conversely, the Scarlet and Black misfired on four straight attempts from the floor and committed two turnovers during the remainder of the half to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room.
Following the break, Air Force kept things rolling with a 10-2 outburst, vaulting in front for the first time in the game on a Blagowsky basket with four minutes elapsed in the second half. The Aztecs quickly countered with a layup by Fort; however, the Falcons reeled off six straight points, including four by Blagowsky, who nailed a jumper and sank two free throws to go up 48-43 with 14:23 remaining.
After an exchange of baskets, SDSU took charge with a decisive 15-0 surge over the next 5:52 to take the lead for good 60-50 with 6:34 left on the clock. Sophomore Aleiah Brandon (Corona, Calif.) connected on a critical three-pointer, while freshman Cheyenne Greenhouse (Riverside, Calif.) converted a layup and added two free throws to key the run. In the interim, the Falcons imploded during that stretch, missing six shots from the field while turning the ball over on four occasions.
Air Force pulled to within seven at 64-57 following a bucket by Porter with 2:12 to go, but a Fort layup and two Amarikwa free throws quickly restored the Aztecs' double-digit advantage. The Falcons inched closer with treys by Porter and Blagowsky on consecutive possessions, but SDSU kept the hosts at bay with five free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
In all, the Aztecs drained 17 of 22 attempts from the charity stripe, while Air Force went to the line just 13 times, sinking nine of its tries. Despite going 1 for 11 from beyond the three-point arc, SDSU still matched the Falcons' 48 percent clip (26-54)from the field, connecting on 28 of 58 shots overall.
The Aztecs will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 3, when they play host to Fresno State at Viejas Arena. Game time is set for 2 p.m. PT.