Feb. 20, 2016
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SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State women's basketball team shook off some early rust on Saturday to post an 87-70 conquest of San José State in a Mountain West clash at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena.
The Aztecs (10-15, 5-9 MW) finished with their highest scoring output of the year, overcoming an 11-point first-quarter deficit to win their fourth in a row, while Spartans (11-15, 9-6 MW) saw their own five-game victory stretch snapped in the process.
For the first time this season, SDSU had five players produce double-digit scoring totals, led by senior Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.), who tallied 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while fellow classmate Deidra Smith (Aurora, Colo.) logged her second career double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Sophomore McKynzie Fort (Fontana, Calif.), the reigning MW Player of the Week, also got into the act with 14 points of her own, while junior Kymberly Ellison (Columbus, Ga.) and sophomore Cheyenne Greenhouse (Riverside. Calif.) notched 11 points apiece.
As a team, the Aztecs shot 45.8 percent from the field (33-72), including a 64.7 percent clip (11-17) in the third quarter when the Scarlet and Black outscored SJSU 27-17 to break open a tight game. In addition, SDSU connected on a season-best 87.5 percent of its free-throw attempts (14-16) and maintained a 34-26 advantage on points in the paint to help avenge an earlier loss to the Spartans in San José.
Not to be outdone, the Aztecs deftly spread the ball around, recording a season-high 20 assists, including five apiece by Harvey, Fort and junior Ariell Bostick (Oakland, Calif.), while committing just eight turnovers.
Trailing 21-10 with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter, SDSU scraped off the cobwebs with a 16-5 surge to tie the game at 26-26 by the 5:38 mark of the second period. Harvey scored eight points during the outburst, including four straight free throws, while Greenhouse, Smith, Bostick and junior Aleiah Brandon (Corona, Calif.) came through with key baskets as well.
SJSU responded with an 8-3 spurt to reclaim a 34-29 bulge with 3:10 to go before intermission. However, the Aztecs closed the half with a 10-2 blitz, highlighted by Greenhouse's baseline jumper with 11 seconds left, to vault in front for good.
After hitting just 1 of 6 three-point attempts in the first half, the Aztecs went 6-for-12 from beyond the arc following the break, including back-to-back conversions from sophomore Lexy Thorderson (Castle Rock, Colo.), which gave the host school a commanding 64-49 lead by the 2:16 mark of the third quarter. On the flip side, SDSU limited the visitors to just 8-of-21 shooting in the period (38.1 percent) to seize control.
The Aztecs kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter, forcing seven Spartan turnovers while maintaining their hot shooting from the perimeter. Ellison drained two of her three triples during the first four minutes of the frame to help provide SDSU its biggest cushion of the afternoon at 79-58 with 6:06 to go in the contest.
SJSU was led by Dezz Ramos' game-high 23 points, while Nyre Harris totaled 19 points, highlighted by a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the arc. Jasmine Smith also reached double figures with 12 points to go with six rebounds in the loss.
The Aztecs donned special pink uniforms in their annual "Play4Kay" game on Saturday to help promote awareness of women's cancers.
San Diego State looks to keep the momentum rolling in its next outing on Wednesday, Feb. 24, when it squares off against Wyoming at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. PT.