CANCUN, Mexico – The San Diego State women’s basketball team (8-1) fell to Providence (4-5) 55-54 in their final game of the Cancun Challenge Saturday morning.
The Aztecs trailed for nearly the entire game, and by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter but rallied to take the lead with 22.9 seconds left. However, Providence was fouled with 4.3 seconds left and hit both free throws to give SDSU their first loss of the season.
Veronica Sheffey led the Aztecs with 16 points, 10 of which came during SDSU’s run in the fourth quarter. She also had a team-high five assists. Cali Clark had another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds while having a team best over/under of +11. Clark added three steals and three blocks as well.
SDSU began the game on a 6-0 run but that was followed with an 11-0 run by the Friars. Providence would hold on to that lead until the minute.
Like Friday’s game against VCU, turnovers in the first half plagued the Aztecs and they trailed by nine at the halftime break.
SDSU picked it up offensively in the third quarter and pulled within one point of Providence multiple times only to see the Friars always answer.
A 15-5 run spanning the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter, pushed the Friars’ lead to 11 with 7:26 remaining.
A 12-2 Aztec run fueled by Sheffey mid-range jumpers cut the deficit to one with 1:19 left.
A pair of Clark free throws gave SDSU a one-point lead with 22.9 seconds left. After a foul, Providence’s Grace Efosa made both free throws to retake the lead with 4.3 seconds left.
Clark had a good look in the final seconds, but her shot rimmed out.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Aztecs had just eight bench points. They entered the game averaging over 30 points from their bench per game.
THE NOTE
San Diego State’s 8-0 start was their best since the 1988-89 season.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs are off until Friday at 11 a.m. when they’ll host Bethesda for their Field Trip game.