PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – The San Diego State women’s basketball team (4-3) fell to Penn State (5-1) 83-67 in their final game of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas Monday.
SDSU was outscored 21-7 in the second quarter but lost just 62-60 across the other three quarters.
“We got a little sped up in the beginning, but once we settled in, I thought we did a much better job of taking care of the ball in the second half,” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said. “I’m disappointed because I felt we got good shots. We just didn’t shoot it at the level that I know we can.
Nat Martinez scored a career-high 24 points, shooting 7-for-15 from the floor, 5-for-10 from three and 5-for-6 from the line. It was her fourth time scoring 20 or more points in her young career. Naomi Panganiban also scored in double-digits with 14 points.
“Nat and Naomi had outstanding games,” Terry-Hutson praised. “It was good to see the ball go in the basket for them, but we need the entire team to be more consistent.
The Aztecs began the game hot from three, reversing a trend of cold starts from the last two games, and found themselves up 12-6 with Nat Martinez hitting a pair of threes.
SDSU trailed by just one point at the end of the first quarter (22-21) and Martinez had 11 points.
Penn State was able to force seven turnovers in the second quarter and began the frame on a 17-4 run to build a double-digit lead.
The Aztecs limited turnovers and shot better in the second half but still couldn’t slow down the Lions.
SDSU was outrebounded 45-32 and outscored 20-8 in second chance points.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Aztecs were outscored 48-22 in the paint with the majority of Penn State’s Grace Merkle who had 26 points on 12-for-15 shooting.
THE NOTE
SDSU had just four turnovers in the second half, and none in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs are off until December 7 when they host Pacific for their Filipino Heritage Game.