Nov. 20, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
Junior McKynzie Fort's 22 points and nine rebounds weren't enough to power San Diego State women's basketball in a juggernaut against Loyola Marymount Sunday afternoon, as the Aztecs fell to the Lions in non-conference action, 60-53.
With the loss, San Diego State falls to 1-3, while Loyola Marymount's first win of the year puts it at 1-3.
"I think we defended really well for three quarters," head coach Stacie Terry said. "That was a huge improvement on the numbers we've given up in the first three games. We spent a lot of time on the defensive plan, making sure that we got there and stopped the layups and we did a much better job of that in the last three quarters. The next piece now is to work on our post defense but there was a tremendous amount of improvement on the defensive side of the ball."
In the first half, San Diego State had one of its best shooting performances of the season, shooting 46 percent (11-for-26) from the floor as compared to the Lions' 38.1 (13-for-34) first-half shooting percentage.
In the third quarter, trailing 32-38, the Scarlet and Black opened up the contest with a 12-2 run.
Just 21 seconds into the second half, SDSU was able to cut the LMU lead to two points. Ariell Bostick stole the ball and passed it to Kymberly Ellison, who went for the three and missed. Lexy Thorderson scooped up the rebound and went for a three of her own but the ball careened off the basket. Fort was able to snag the ball and the third time was the charm for a nearside jumper and the 32-30 Aztec advantage.
SDSU attained its first lead of the game shortly thereafter with an Ellison trey and, 30 seconds later, San Diego State was able to build on the margin. After a Bostick defensive rebound, Cheyenne Greenhouse threw the ball to Baylee Vanderdoes at the basket, who lifted in the 36-32 score. A jumper by Greenhouse and layup by Ellison gave the Scarlet and Black its greatest lead of the game at 40-34.
But the Lions went on a 7-0 run to snatch back its lead and get the 41-40 score.
At 3:42, however, Fort picked up the rebound of Thorderson's three-point shot and fought through traffic to get the 42-41 basket and San Diego State advantage.
Three consecutive field goals by Loyola Marymount regained its lead at 47-42 to end the third.
In the fourth quarter, despite being down as much as 10 points, the Aztecs were able to keep the game within reach. With 24 seconds to go in regulation, a good three by Thorderson and free throws by Fort (2) and Bostick (1) sliced the margin to four points.
But San Diego State's shots wouldn't fall and LMU would make four free throws for the final 60-53 score.
For the game, the Aztecs shot 32.8 percent (20-for-61), led by Fort's 22 points. Bostick's nine rebounds were one away from her career-high (10). In her first start of the year, Thorderson recorded six points and three rebounds in 19 minutes logged.
San Diego State heads to New Jersey for a Thanksgiving trip to the Seton Hall Tournament. The Aztecs face Terry's alma mater, UT Arlington, on Sat., Nov. 26 at noon ET. The team will then play either Seton Hall and Central Connecticut State Sunday.
"We need to make shots," Terry said. "I think we're putting so much pressure on our defense night in and night out. We finally got our defense to look like what it's supposed to look like but we didn't make shots. Our emphasis going forward is to shoot the ball better. If we can do that, we'll be okay."