Feb. 1, 2017
LARAMIE, Wyo. -
San Diego State women's basketball faced a Wyoming team that produced its finest shooting performance of the season and couldn't push past, falling to the Cowgirls in Mountain West action, 80-67, at Arena-Auditorium Wednesday evening.
The game, which snaps a two-game losing streak for Wyoming, puts its MW record at 8-2 and 16-5 overall. SDSU, meanwhile, drops to 3-6 in conference play and is 8-12 this year.
"We made a lot of defensive errors but the team competed tonight," head coach Stacie Terry said. "They didn't give up. This is a really tough place to play and their coach does a great job. Their kids are very disciplined."
McKynzie Fort led the Aztecs for the 12th time this season, generating 18 points while shooting 8-for-13. Khalia Lark corralled five boards and recorded 16 points, while Kymberly Ellison got 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers.
The game kicked off as a thrilling, fast-paced affair with both teams demonstrating solid shooting. The Aztecs shot 50 percent (7-for-14) while the Cowgirls were 53.8 percent (7-for-13) with the score, 19-16, in Wyoming's favor after 10 minutes of play.
The score remained close as the second period began. One minute into the second quarter, San Diego State knotted the score at 21-21 on a long three by Ellison, and took the lead when Lark drilled a pair of free throws at 8:29. The teams then traded baskets, keeping the margin close.
But after a layup by Lark at 3:53, Wyoming's offense stormed back and closed out the half by going on a 9-0 run for the 43-31 lead after 20 minutes. The Cowgirls out-scored the Aztecs, 24-15, in the period, going 10-for-14 from the floor for an outstanding 71.4 percent.
In the third quarter, Fort took it upon herself to attempt a San Diego State comeback. She got the Aztecs' opening two and closing two baskets of frame for eight points in the quarter. But SDSU had trouble counteracting an outstanding display of offensive talent by Wyoming. The Cowgirls made nine field goals on 12 attempts for a sweltering 75 percent single-quarter shooting percentage, their best single-quarter shooting percentage since its MW opener on Dec. 31, 2016, a 79-57 win over UNLV.
The final frame saw San Diego State out-score Wyoming, 19-15, but the deficit was too much for the Aztecs to overcome for the final 80-67 score.
San Diego State took care of the ball during the night, recording a season-low six turnovers and stole the ball six times, while the Cowgirls turned the ball over 14 times and had one steal.
For the game, Wyoming had its best shooting performance of the year, shooting 66.0 percent (33-for-50), while the Aztecs shot 46.4 percent (26-for-56). The Scarlet and Black had trouble on the glass, as they were out-rebounded, 32-18. The Aztecs' 18 boards were a season low. SDSU was only able to manage five assists to Wyoming's 22 assists, San Diego State's fewest helpers against a conference opponent this year.
"When we don't share the ball and move the ball, we're just not as good," Terry said. "We scored 67 points but I want to see us share and move the ball and get downhill. We had five assists to their 22. That's something that we need to come back and work on."
San Diego State will welcome Fresno State to Viejas Arena on Sat., Feb. 4 for a 2 p.m. contest. The game will be the Aztecs' Girls and Women in Sport Day contest. Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrates female athletic achievement and recognizes the importance of sports and fitness preparation for all girls and women.