SAN DIEGO – The San Diego women's basketball program (4-2, 0-0 WCC) took the lead with 40 seconds left and held on through a thriller, defeating Idaho State (2-4, 0-0 Big Sky), 58-57, in the opener of The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  
 
Kiera Oakry and Ayanna Khalfani each recorded season-highs in points, as Oakry went for 14 points, while Khalfani scored 13 points, including 11 in the first half.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After an opening three pointer from Oakry, the Bengals responded with a 13-0 run early in the first quarter.
• Khalfani responded immediately with a 10-0 run of her own, while the Toreros defense locked in to stop the early advantage.
• The Toreros rallied for a big second quarter run of 13-3, that began with a three pointer from Jess Finney and featured four points from Kylie Horstmeyer.  
• However, the Bengals chipped their way back into the game, that ended with a late layup by Laura Bello to tie the game at 34-34.
• Points came at a premium in the third quarter for both teams, as the two sides remained tied at the end of the period at 45-45.
• Horstmeyer picked up her team with another three points, while the Toreros defense forced eight turnovers to make up for the offensive drought.
• In the fourth, Oakry created a little bit of space for the Toreros with the first five points of the frame to take a 50-45 lead.
• However, the Bengals would not go away, ultimately tying the game at 53-53.
• Needing a boost, the sixth-year veteran Myah Pace scored a key layup in the paint, then secured a steal that set up the game winning free throws from Kasey Neubert with 40 seconds remaining.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Khalfani has gone into double figures twice this season, after scoring 10 or more just three times last year. The senior is averaging a career-high 6.3 PPG.
• San Diego is now 2-0 all-time against the Bengals after today's victory.
• The Toreros finished with a season-high 17 steals in the win. It's their most in a game since a win over Loyola Marymount on Feb. 10, 2022.
• Neubert finished with a career-high four steals on the day.
• San Diego has now held five of six opponents under 60 points this season. That's their most in the opening six games since the 2017-18 season.

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros continue action in The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Classic, hosting No. 15 Arizona on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed via the WCC Network.