Feb. 21, 2015
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SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team snapped its three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 71-61 triumph over visiting San José State at Viejas Arena in the squad's annual "Play4Kay Game" to promote breast cancer awareness.
The Aztecs fashioned a seemingly comfortable 49-25 lead by the 15:58 mark of the second half, but had to withstand a furious rally by the Spartans, who gradually narrowed the gap to 65-57 with 1:47 remaining. However, time was on the side of SDSU, which sank six straight free throws in closing minute to preserve the victory.
With the win, the Aztecs raise their record to 10-16 on the year and 7-8 in the Mountain West, while the Spartans fell for the fifth time in their last seven contests, dropping to 11-14 overall and 5-9 in conference play.
SDSU was paced by junior Deidra Smith (Aurora, Colo.), who came off the bench to record a season-high 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while fellow classmate Erimma Amarikwa (Vacaville, Calif.) added 14 points to go with eight rebounds and two blocks. In addition, the Aztecs received an important contribution from sophomore Aleiah Brandon (Corona, Calif.), who tallied all of her season-best nine points in the first half, while senior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.) contributed eight points and six rebounds to help the Scarlet and Black defeat SJSU for the third meeting in a row.
Despite maintaining a 20-2 advantage on fast-break points and outscoring SDSU 18-12 off turnovers, the Spartans dug themselves a deep hole in the first half, connecting on just 9 of 30 field-goal attempts (30 percent), compared to the Aztecs, who went 19-for-39 from the floor (49 percent) in the opening stanza. In addition, SJSU, which entered the weekend as the league's second-best three-point shooting team with an average of eight conversions per game, drained just 3 of 23 tries from beyond the arc overall.
SDSU led by just one 16-15 after the Spartans' Myzhanique Ladd nailed a pair of free throws with 11:08 remaining in the first half. However, the Aztecs broke the score wide open with a 26-7 blitz over the remainder of the period, punctuated by junior Ahjalee Harvey's (Mountain View, Calif.) three-pointer with eight seconds before the halftime buzzer. Smith ignited the run with seven straight points, including an and-one opportunity, while freshman Cheyenne Greenhouse (Riverside, Calif.) got into the act with a pair of baskets to help give the host school a 42-22 bulge at intermission.
The game had all the earmarks of a rout after sophomore Ariell Bostick (Oakland, Calif.) hit a jumper with just over four minutes elapsed in the second half to give the Aztecs their biggest advantage of the afternoon at 49-24. Left for dead, the Spartans began their methodical climb back into contention. However, SDSU still enjoyed a 58-38 cushion after Amarikwa's layup with just 10 minutes to play.
SJSU responded with a quick bucket by Paris Baird on its ensuing possession, while Aniya Baker's triple moments later gave the visitors a much-needed boost. Buoyed by their quick success, the Spartans continued to fight themselves off the ropes over the ensuing seven minutes and change, and when Nyre Harris hit a jumper with 1:47 remaining, SJSU trailed by just eight 65-57.
The Spartans had two chances to pull within six, but Ta'Rea Cunnigan missed a layup, while Jasmine Smith misfired on two free throws to all but extinguish their comeback hopes. The Aztecs, who went 13-for-19 from the charity stripe for the game, promptly converted six foul shots, including four by Harvey in the final 52 seconds to secure the win.
SJSU was led by its own reserve Smith, who notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Cunnigan added 13 points, including 10 in the second half.
San Diego State will have an open date next week before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 28, with a road clash at Boise State, starting at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.