Nov. 20, 2005

Box Score

By, Amanda Piechowski
USD Media Relations

SAN DIEGO, CA - 15th-ranked Arizona State (3-0) received 14 points and eight rebounds from sophomore forward Emily Westerberg to escape with a 67-63 victory over host San Diego (0-2) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion Sunday afternoon.

"We just came out with no fear," remarked first-year San Diego head coach Cindy Fisher after her home debut. "Starting out so strong showed our guards especially that we can guard them and out run them and play right there with them."

San Diego capitalized on seven Sun Devil turnovers and shot out to a quick 11-2 lead five minutes into the first half. Arizona would soon answer, however, as a lay-up from senior center Kristen Kovesdy kicked off a 19-4 Arizona State run.

A San Diego three-pointer from guard Amanda Rego, who scored 16 points, brought the Arizona run to a halt, putting the Toreros within two with 2:15 remaining in the first half. USD center Sabine Loewe, the WCC field goal percentage leader a year ago, made a pair of baskets in the paint and added a free throw in the final moments of the opening period to give the Toreros a 33-32 halftime edge.

"Sabine (Loewe) did a great job of controlling post play, especially with (Arizona State's) size advantage," commented Fisher.

Loewe limited Kovesdy, last week's WBCA/BTI Classic Tournament MVP, to five rebounds and three second-half points. USD guard Ashley Voisinet, along with Loewe, was one of four Toreros to have four rebounds on Sunday.

True freshman Kelly Winther scored a career-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field to keep USD close in the second half. Winther brought USD to within five, 66-61, with just over a minute to play.

A series of missed baskets by the Toreros as time ran out allowed Arizona State to come away with the win.

"My word for the year is `kaizen,' which is Japanese for continuous improvement," said Fisher. "If we stay positive and keep improving, we'll reach our goals by March."

USD will play city rivals San Diego State at 7pm Tuesday at SDSU's Cox Arena.