Feb. 27, 2018
BOISE, IDAHO ââ'¬" The San Diego State women's basketball team fell at Boise State 64-53 Tuesday evening at the Taco Bell Arena. The Aztecs trailed by just four points entering the fourth quarter, but missed their first 11 shots of the quarter and the Broncos went on an 11-0 run, which the Aztecs could not overcome.
Three Aztecs scored in double-digits, led by McKynzie Fort's 13. Najé Murray added 12 and Geena Gomez scored in double-digits for the eighth time in the past nine games, chipping in 11 points.
The Aztecs (11-17, 5-12) quickly found themselves in a hole at the beginning of the game, allowing the Broncos to score the game's first nine points. San Diego State tightened up on the defensive end and pulled within four points (18-14) with three minutes left in the quarter, but the Broncos (19-9, 13-4) still shot 53 percent in the first quarter. Riley Lupfer led all players, scoring nine points, to help the Broncos take a 24-18 lead in to the break.
It was an offensive struggle for both teams to start the second quarter. Neither team scored in the first three minutes of the second quarter and both teams would go on to make only five buckets in the second frame. A Lupfer three put the Broncos up 36-25 with three minutes left in the half, but the Aztecs finished the quarter on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a Te'a Adams steal which led to a Najé Murray fast break lay-in at the buzzer. The Aztecs went in the locker room trailing 36-33, the closest they had been since it was 3-0. Murray led the Aztecs with nine points at the break.
McKynzie Fort had an and-one early in the third quarter to bring the Aztecs within two points, but then they went cold. They missed six straight shots and went nearly five minutes without a point. This led to a Broncos 8-0 run and pushed their lead back to 10 (46-36).
The Aztecs ended the quarter with another buzzer beater, this time it was Geena Gomez knocking down a three-pointer from 30 feet out to pull the Aztecs within four points (49-45).
San Diego State missed their first 11 shots in the fourth quarter and Boise State went on an 11-0 run to open up their largest lead at 60-45. The Aztecs would trail by double-digits for the remainder of the game.
The Aztecs shot just 23 percent in the second half and 30 percent for the game. The Broncos finished with a 41.3 field goal percentage, but were held to a 27 percent clip from three-point range.
Boise State had four players score in double-digits, led by Riley Lupfer's 16. A'Shanti Coleman added 14 while Shalen Shaw and Brayey Hogins each chipped in 10.
THE NOTE I
Najé Murray tied a career-high with seven rebounds.
THE NOTE II
Geena Gomez has scored in double-digits in eight of the past nine games, averaging 14.6 points per game in that span.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Aztecs allowed the Broncos to start the game on a 9-0 run. Boise State also started the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs wrap up their regular season on Friday when they take on the Nevada Wolf Pack at 6:30 p.m. PT in Reno, Nev.