Feb. 4, 2015
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SAN DIEGO - Despite a dreary start, the San Diego State women's basketball team won back-to-back games for the first time this season after defeating Nevada, 57-49, on Wednesday in a defensive struggle at Viejas Arena.
With the victory, the Aztecs raise their record to 8-13 overall and 5-5 in the Mountain West, while the Wolf Pack dropped their seventh in a row, falling to 6-14 on the year and 2-7 in league play.
The two teams combined for just 38 points in a ragged first half, shooting a collective 26 percent from the floor (14-54), while committing 25 turnovers.
SDSU, which mustered just three baskets and two free throws through the first 12 minutes of the contest, found itself trailing by a 15-8 count, before closing the half with a 13-2 run to take the lead for good, 21-17.
The Aztecs stretched the margin to double digits in the opening moments of the second half, as junior Erimma Amarikwa (Vacaville, Calif.) converted an and-one opportunity to put the host school up 30-19 by the 17:51 mark.
Nevada responded with a 13-7 spurt over the next eight-plus minutes, eventually narrowing the gap to 37-32 on a three-pointer by Ashlee Jones with 9:31 left. However, the momentum swung back in SDSU's favor on its very next possession as Amarikwa drew a fifth foul on the Wolf Pack's 6-foot-8 center Mimi Mungedi. The Aztec forward drained a pair of free throws to spark a 12-4 blitz, while sophomore Ariell Bostick capped the run with a layup to put SDSU up 49-36 with 5:21 remaining.
The Wolf Pack trimmed the margin to single digits on two occasions, including a 53-45 spread following an Anna Cameron triple with 2:29 to go. Moments later however, Amarikwa got free underneath for an easy bucket, while junior Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.) hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to help secure the win.
Amarikwa fell one point short of her career-high, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while senior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.) added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Aztec cause was also aided by freshman Cheyenne Greenhouse (Riverside, Calif.), who totaled nine points and five boards, while Harvey (4 assists) and freshman McKynzie Fort (Fontana, Calif.) chipped in six points apiece.
Emily Burns was the lone Nevada player in double figures, tallying 13 points, highlighted by a pair of treys.
San Diego State returns to the court on Saturday when it plays host to Boise State at 2 p.m. PT inside Viejas Arena. The Broncos (14-6, 6-3 MW), who occupy fourth place in the Mountain West standings, routed Utah State 94-55 at home on Wednesday.