SAN DIEGO – The Aztec women's basketball team (21-7, 11-4) outlasted Colorado State (17-9, 10-5) 53-49 inside Viejas Arena Thursday evening. SDSU never trailed and held the Rams to a season-low 49 points.
With the win, coupled with Wyoming's loss at New Mexico, the Aztecs are now in sole possession of second place with three games left in the regular season.
"Defense was our main focus tonight," Mercedes Staples said after the game. "We tried to prevent middle drives and I thought we did a really good job with that."
Staples led the Aztecs with 13 points and hauled in eight rebounds. Sophia Ramos recorded her second straight double-double with 10 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
SDSU had a dominant defensive first half which enabled them to build a 16-point lead and then they held off a late run by the Rams. CSU missed their first 12 three-pointers and were held to 13 points in the first half.
A 9-0 Aztec run gave them a 21-8 lead early in the second quarter and then they took their biggest lead early in the third quarter when they went up 29-13.
The Rams shot 50 percent in the second half as they started to chip away at SDSU's lead. They made five of their first six shots in the fourth quarter to pull within six points and then got as close as three after SDSU struggled from the field.
The Rams got within three, but SDSU hit enough free throws, including two clutch ones from Kim Villalobos with 12 seconds left, to put the game away.
CSU's McKenna Hofschild, the Mountain West's leading scorer, finished with 19 points but was hounded all night by Staples, Alex Crain and Asia Avinger.
The Aztecs outrebounded the Rams 39-28.
STAT OF THE GAME
SDSU held Colorado State to 5-for-27 (19%) shooting from three.
THE NOTE
The Aztecs held the Rams to a season-low 49 points.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
"I'm so grateful. I think I took things for granted. I feel like I look at the game differently now and I'm just grateful to play the rest of these games." Mercedes Staples reflecting after missing time with an injury
UP NEXT
The Aztecs host Wyoming, who is tied for third place, Saturday at 1 p.m.
Aztecs Outlast Rams 59-43
