Nov. 18, 2013

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -The University of San Diego women's basketball team held on to pick up a 48-45 win over San Diego State University Monday evening in a non-conference game at the Viejas Arena.

With the win, the Toreros remain perfect on the season, as they improve to 3-0 overall for the first time since the 2006-07 season. With the loss, the Aztecs fall to 0-3.

"I thought it was an absolute battle for 40 minutes tonight. I was so proud of how the team never got rattled, we never got upset, and just kept pushing through," stated head coach Cindy Fisher. "I mean to have 23 offensive rebounds, that's just hustle, and work ethic for the team. No matter what, this is a huge rival game, and we are fortunate to get out of here with a win."

Senior guard Amy Kame scored a game-high 16 points to pace the Torero offense, and she scored her points on 7-of-20 shooting from the field. Brooke Jelnikeralso had a huge night, as she scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, while dishing out four assists, and pulling down six boards. As a team, USD shot .318 from the field and out rebounded the Aztecs 42-37, including 23 offensive boards.

In the first four minutes of play, USD came out on fire defensively, applying a ton of ball pressure, which forced SDSU to turn the ball over on their first two possessions. Those two turnovers led to two points for USD. SDSU then settled in and it was a back and forth affair, and after the first 4:27 of action, the score was knotted at 4-all with 15:33 to go.

Out of the break, a Katelyn McDaniel jumper then sparked an 11-3 Torero run over the next five minutes of action, which was capped on a Jelniker jumper, to give USD some momentum and a 15-7 lead with 9:31 to go.

The Aztecs then got a little momentum and managed to close the gap down to one at 17-16 on a Chairese Culberso 3-pointer with 4:00 to go it he first half.

However, a Sophia Ederaine free-throw then sparked a 5-2 Torero run over the next two minutes, that forced the home team into a timeout, with USD leading 22-18 with 2:00 to go in the first half. Out of the break, SDSU managed to hit a 3-pointer with under a minute to go, to bring the half time score to 22-21 in favor of USD.

In the second half, USD got the first two baskets on an Kame lay-up and a Felicia Wijenberg lay-up to give USD the early momentum. However, SDSU didn't fade away, as they went on a 10-5 run to take the lead at 31-29 with 14:10 to go.

The Toreros then responded with an 8-2 run over the next four minutes of play to take a 37-33 lead with 10:33 to go. The two teams the began to trade basket-for-basket over the next few minutes before a pair of Erimma Amarikwa free throws gave SDSU the lead at 41-42 with 4:00 to go.

The two teams then traded baskets, and a Kame 3-pointer with 1:32 to go gave USD back the lead for good. Although it was a scary final 1:32, USD managed to hit key free throws, followed by a few key rebounds by Ederaine. Then SDSU had the ball with under 20 seconds to go, and tried to fire off a three, only to have Malina Hood come up with a block to seal the win, and giving USD a huge sign of relief.

The Toreros will return to action on Saturday, as they head up to the Bay Area to take on San Jose State University in a 3 p.m. non-conference game.