SAN DIEGO – Competing in their first back-to-back of the season, the San Diego women's basketball team (2-4, 0-0 WCC) came up short on their home floor to Alabama A&M (4-3, 0-0 SWAC) by a 78-67 final score on Saturday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

The Toreros wrapped up their 2024 Thanksgiving Classic which featured three other teams competing in the JCP over the holiday weekend. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Looking to get off to a fast start on their home floor, Lauren McCall was ready to go for San Diego as she knocked down an open three-point shot off an assist from Truitt Reilly to open up the scoring.
• San Diego would then go on to build upon their lead later in the quarter as Ava Ranson scored on a layup to put USD ahead 11-6 midway through the first quarter.
• Reilly would come through again late in the quarter as she made a layup to put San Diego up five for their final points of the period. 
• Working to extend the team's early lead Malia Tharpe made a layup off a great pass from Paris Santacaterina putting USD up 21-16 early in the second.
• After the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game, the Toreros were ready to respond as Kylie Horstmeyer made a layup and Reilly knocked down a paint jumper to even the score at 30 apiece.
• Hallie Rhodes would deliver USD's final points of the first half on an up-and-under move as the game was even at 32 with both teams heading to the locker room.
• Starting the second half on the right foot, Santacaterina should off her long-distance shooting with a three-point hit following a Horstmeyer assist to make it 37-34 Toreros. 
• Kylie wasn't done yet as she made another layup later in the quarter to bring USD's deficit down to six points at 45-39.
• Alabama A&M would score the final eight points of the quarter as they built a 57-43 lead heading into the fourth.
• Not giving in despite trailing,  Ranson made back-to-back jumpers that brought San Diego back within 11 points. 
• The Bulldogs would go to control the rest of the game as they earned the 78-67 road win on Saturday afternoon. 

TORERO TIDBITS

• Reaching double figures once again, Horstmeyer scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with four rebounds and a pair of assists and blocks. 
• Ranson was extremely efficient on the offensive end of the floor while scoring 12 points and dishing out a season-high five assists against the Bulldogs.
• Having another strong game on both ends of the floor, Reilly netted 12 points and grabbed six rebounds while also blocking a shot and coming away with a steal against Alabama A&M. 

NEXT UP
San Diego will be back home later this week as they will take on La Sierra on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6:00 p.m. Live video and live statistics links can be found on the team's website.