SAN DIEGO – Returning to their home court for another early tip-off, the San Diego women's basketball team (3-6, 0-0 WCC) battled hard but couldn't overcome an early deficit as they fell to Binghamton (4-3, 0-0 AEC) by a 63-55 final score on Wednesday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Hallie Rhodes played 39 minutes and set a new San Diego high by scoring 25 points against the Bearcats, while Ayla Williams recorded her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- USD got the action started on Wednesday with Eva Ruse making a strong move to the basket and earning a pair of free throws that gave the Toreros a 2-0 lead.
- With both defenses getting stops and forcing turnovers, the Toreros would score their first bucket of the game at the 5:19 mark when H. Rhodes put home a driving layup that made it 6-4 Bearcats early.
- The Toreros would score their final points of the first 10 minutes of play when H. Rhodes once again got downhill and scored at the basket with Binghamton ending the first quarter leading 12-6.
- Starting the second quarter, the Bearcats would score the first eight points of the period as USD looked to regroup quickly as H. Rhodes grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to get San Diego a little closer.
- Midway through the quarter, Williams made a play herself by driving to the basket and scoring another layup to make it a 22-17 Bearcats lead with halftime approaching.
- In USD's final possession of the first half, H. Rhodes found a wide open Olivia Owens who knocked down a three to get the Toreros back in the game as they trailed 28-24 heading into the locker room.
- Coming out of halftime, San Diego looked poised to take control of the game as Owens made a turn around jumper and Lilly Amor knocked down a corner three that gave USD a three point lead at 31-28.
- Later on in the quarter, H. Rhodes grabbed another offensive board and put the shot back as the Toreros led 33-30 at the 6:49 mark of the third.
- Binghamton would regain the lead late in the quarter as they led 43-39 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
- Trying to get her team back in the game late, H. Rhodes scored a nice turnaround jump shot to get her team back within three points at 44-41.
- Continuing to play tough defense despite trailing, Amor was able to come away with a steal and fed the ball to Helen Holley who found Williams open for a layup that got USD closer by making the score 51-45.
- The Bearcats would go on to control the late portions of the game as they picked up the 63-55 victory on Wednesday afternoon.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Williams was fantastic off the USD bench on Wednesday as she posted a 12 point, 16 rebound double-double while knocking down all six free throws she attempted.
- H. Rhodes was in attack mode from the jump as she put home 25 points while shooting 11-of-16 from the field, collecting a trio of rebounds and dishing out a pair of assists.
- As a team, the Toreros came away with 11 steals and forced 19 Bearcat turnovers during Wednesday's home contest.
POST GAME WITH THE TOREROS
NEXT UP
USD will be back in action at home this Sunday, December 7 as they will face off with Utah State (3-3, 0-0 MWC) at 2:00 p.m. from the JCP. Ticket, live video and live statistic links for Sunday's game can be found via the team's schedule page.
