OGDEN, Utah – Competing on the road for the first time in the young season, the San Diego women's basketball team (2-0, 0-0 WCC) defeated the Weber State Wildcats (1-2, 0-0 Big Sky) by a 66-63 margin on Tuesday night at Dee Events Center.
The win was a milestone for USD head coach Cindy Fisher as she picked up her 400th career victory in her illustrious career between Wyoming and San Diego.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams got off to slow offensive starts thanks to relentless defense on both ends of the floor. Ava Ranson knocked down a jump shot off a Lauren McCall assist for the first points of the night.
- The Toreros would go on to start the first quarter on a 7-2 run as a Truitt Reilly lay up and McCall three-point make helped extend their lead.
- Ranson would go on to score USD's final points of the first quarter as they held a 16-12 lead in the team's first road game.
- USD would also score the first points of the second quarter as Hallie Rhodes came away with a steal that led to a fast break lay up on the other end to push San Diego's lead to six.
- After the Wildcats were able to cut their deficit down to one, Paris Santacaterina came through with a clutch and-one lay up to extend USD's lead to 24-20 at the media timeout.
- The Rhodes sisters would team up to score San Diego's final seven points as the Toreros extended their lead to 40-28 heading into halftime.
- Setting the tone to start the second half, Kylie Horstmeyer made both of USD's first two baskets in the third quarter as San Diego held on to a 44-33 lead as Weber State started to see some shots fall.
- After the Wildcats were able to cut their deficit down to six late in the quarter, Ranson would deliver a clutch and-one lay up to push the lead back up to nine.
- Courtney Wristen would go on to knock down a free throw for USD's final point of the quarter as they held a 58-48 lead with 10 minutes of game time remaining.
- The first 1:47 of game action in the fourth quarter was scoreless until Horstmeyer knocked down two free throws and Reilly made a jump shot that pushed the Toreros' lead to 12.
- After Weber State took their first lead of the game with just 46 seconds remaining the Toreros would continue to come through in the clutch. H. Rhodes made an impressive lay up with 36 seconds left in the game to put USD back in front and forced the Wildcats into a timeout.
- San Diego's defense would come through with a key stop as Weber State's go-ahead three point attempt didn't connect and Horstmeyer was there to collect the rebound. Kylie would then hit a pair of free throws to put the Toreros ahead by three as they won their first road game of the season by a 66-63 final score.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Fisher is now a member of the 400 win club making her one of just 57 active coaches to reach that milestone in their career.
- Tonight's win marks six consecutive times that the Toreros have emerged victorious against the Wildcats, as they lead the all-time series 5-1.
- Coming through with another strong performance, Horstmeyer scored a team-best 15 points to go along with five rebounds. She was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.
- Making her USD debut on Tuesday night, Jayden Rhodes played a key role off San Diego's bench in the win as she scored six points, grabbed two rebounds to go along with a block and an assist in her 15 minutes of action.
POST GAME WITH THE TOREROS
NEXT UP
The Toreros will now continue their road swing as they will head to the desert to take on UNLV on Tuesday, Nov. 12 for a 6:30 p.m. PST tip-off. Live video and live statistics links can be found on the team's website.
