Nov. 30, 2010

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Three Toreros scored in double figures, paced by Dominique Conners' game-high 23, but it wasn't enough as the University of San Diego women's basketball team (4-2) dropped a 72-63 overtime decision to cross-town rival San Diego State University (2-4) Tuesday evening in a non-conference game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Conners scored her season-high 23 points on 9-for-24 shooting from the field, while also recording five rebounds and picking up three steals. Nya Mason was the second Torero to score in double figures as she scored 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting, and Sam Child scored 10 points, which put her at 1,002 career points. As a team, USD shot .353 from the field and was out rebounded 53-49.

In the first half, USD came out on fire, as a Conners jumper ignited a 7-1 run over the first 3:35 of play to give the Toreros the early momentum. The Aztecs didn't allow USD to get a lead any bigger than six, as they would begin to trade USD basket-for-basket over the next five minutes of play. Then SDSU used a 7-3 run to grab their first lead of the game at 20-19 with 7:20 to go. USD would then respond with a 6-2 run over the final seven minutes of play to take a 25-22 lead into the break.

In the second half, the two teams seemed to be equally matched, as San Diego would balloon its lead up to six points on several occasions, before the Aztecs would take it back down to two over the first seven minutes of play. Then with USD leading 35-33, a Mason lay-up jump started a 12-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 47-35 with 9:01 to go. The Toreros were able to maintain an 8-10 point lead over the next few minutes, until the score was at 50-42, then the Aztecs put together a 13-5 run to pull even with USD at 55-55 with 1:51 to go. Conners then stole the ball and converted a lay-up to put the Toreros up 57-55 with 1:14 to go. The Toreros then committed a foul with 58 seconds left, which put SDSU's Paris Johnson on the line, and she hit a pair of free throws to force overtime.

In the overtime period, SDSU would build up its lead to six at 63-57 with 1:49 to go, then a Child three-pointer banked in to give the Toreros some hope and a three-point deficit with 1:29 to go. However on the ensuing possession, Johnson completed a three-pointy play to give SDSU back a six-point edge with 1:04 to go. The Aztecs were then able to hold onto their lead and went on to claim the 72-63 win.

USD will return to action on Thursday when they head to Hawaii to take on BYU-Hawaii in an 8 p.m. non-conference game.