Louisiana Tech 87, San Jose State 69
Box Score
SAN JOSE, Calif. ? In the Spartans’ highest-scoring game of the season, four San Jose State players scored in double-figures. But, Louisiana Tech used hot shooting in the second half to win 87-69 Friday night in a Western Athletic Conference game on Walt McPherson Court at The Event Center.
In scoring 69 points, four San Jose State women’s basketball players scored in double figures. Natalie White led all Spartan scorers with 22 points, her third 20-point game of the season and the 14th of her career. White moved into eighth place all-time in scoring at San Jose State with 1,189 career points, passing Rhoda Chew (1,188) and Natasha Johnson (1,172). She was 8-for-19 from the field including 4-10 from three-point range, grabbed five rebounds and had two steals.
Ashley Brown scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line. She grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists and had a steal in 30 minutes of action.
Two others scored in double figures for San Jose State. Shaunna Ridge scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds, blocked two shots and dished out two assists. Sayja Sumler scored 10 points, recorded five steals and dished out two assists.
Myesha Broaden led the team in rebounding with seven to tie her career high. She also dished out a season-best three assists and scored four points on the night.
The Spartans had its second-best highest shooting percentage of the season at 43.5 percent for the game and held the Lady Techsters to just 37.5 percent from the field in the first half. However, in the tale of two halves, Louisiana Tech came out and shot lights out in the second half, making 21-of-31 shots for 67.6 percent from the field.
San Jose State continues at home this Sunday evening to face New Mexico State in a WAC game on Walt McPherson Court. Game time is set for 7 p.m. It is also WBCA Pink Zone night to bring awareness to breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to show their support of this cause. Players, coaches and team personnel will be wearing pink as well.
Utah State 65, Boise State 61
Box Score
BOISE, Idaho ? For the first-time since joining the WAC in 2005-06, the Utah State women's basketball team swept two-time defending Western Athletic Conference Champion, Boise State, with a thrilling 65-61 win over the Broncos. The Aggies crawled back from an 18-point deficit to earn the win. USU also defeated the Broncos in Logan, 58-44.
With the win the Aggies even out there record at 12-12 and 6-5 in WAC play, while the Broncos fall to 14-12, 7-5 in conference action. USU is one win away from matching its most ever conference wins since joining the WAC. Overall, this is the best record the Aggies have had at this point in the season since the 2004-05 season when USU ended the season 14-14.
Three-straight baskets by freshman forward Chelsea Burns helped preserve the Aggie win. With a 57-56 lead and two minutes remaining, Burns sunk a three-pointer to extend the lead to 60-56. A Heather Pilcher lay up closed the gap to 60-58. Burns responded again with another three and would hit one more jumper to seal the four-point victory.
After having her double-digit scoring streak stopped at 13 against Nevada on Feb. 8, senior guard Ana Pares returned to form against Boise State, scoring 16. Senior guard Danyelle Snelgro led the Aggies with 17 points. Burns ended the game with 11 points, while senior forward Shawnta Pope added nine.
Boise State was led by senior Brittany Moore who scored 17 points, while Janie Bos scored 12. Courtney Van Brocklin led the Broncos on the boards with eight rebounds, while Jenna Glassi brought down six.
After being down by as many as 18 points in the first half, the Aggies cut the lead down to as few as three with 14 minutes left in the second half. But a 6-0 run by Boise State increased its lead to nine points. The Aggies responded with an 8-0 led by Shawnta Pope and Amber White to cut the lead down to 41-40, the closest it had been since the start of the game. A three-point basket by junior forward Nicole Johnson gave the Aggies their first lead of the game, 43-41.
With the scored tied 49-49 with just under five minutes to play, Ana Pares sunk a three to give USU the lead back.
The rust from not having a game since Feb. 8 showed as the Aggies were cold from the floor to start the game. The Broncos came out blazing scoring 13 of the first 15 points, taking an early 13-2 lead. In the first seven minutes of the game, the Aggies had scored four points all by senior guard Danyelle Snelgro. Boise State took the early lead due in part to a 8-0 run.
Another 8-0 run by the Broncos stretched the lead to 21-5 with 7:43 remaining in the first half. Behind two three-pointers from Brittany Moore, BSU extended this lead to 24-6 before the Aggies fought back to cut the lead to 26-12 with just under four minutes left in the half.
The Aggie offense came on strong at the end of the first half. After being down by 18 points, Utah State climbed back into the game with four-straight points from Ana Pares and a three from freshman Chelsea Burns to cut the lead at half time to 28-21
For the second-straight game, Snelgro was the bulk of the USU offense scoring eight of the Aggies' 21 first-half points. Fellow senior Shawnta Pope scored five points and brought down six rebounds. While, the USU offense struggled in the first half, the Aggies did manage to bring down 20 rebounds, 12 of which were offensive boards.
Boise State was led by senior Brittany Moore who scored 11 in the first half, nine of which were from three-pointers. Sophomore Janie Bos and senior Jamie Malone both added five points for the Broncos.
For the game, Utah State shot 38.2 percent from the field (26-of-68) and 35.3 percent from three (6-of-17). USU ended the game with 39 rebounds compared to 37 for the Broncos. The Aggies move to 9-1 in games when they out-rebound their opponent.
Boise State shot 42.1 percent from the field (24-of-57) and 25.0 percent from the three point line (5-of-20).
USU finally returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Sunday, Feb. 22 when the Aggies host Idaho for its annual Pink
Hawai¡ 54, New Mexico State 51
Box Score
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The University of Hawai`i women’s basketball team fell behind early in the second half and then rallied to take the lead and never gave it back in a 54-51 victory over New Mexico State on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine led by two points at half, but after New Mexico State took a two-point lead with over 11 minutes left in the game, UH came back with four straight points by Keisha Kanekoa to take the lead.
With the win UH improves to 6-19 overall and 3-9 in Western Athletic Conference play. New Mexico State fell to 8-18 overall and 4-8 in conference action.
Offensively the Rainbow Wahine received a huge spark off the bench by Allie Patterson. Patterson scored a game-high 16 points in 26 minutes off the bench, going 6-for-10 from the field.
Kanekoa finished with 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting and Catherine Cho and Megan Tinnin each added seven points.
In the first half, both teams battled back-and-forth, with UH gaining the lead 25-23 after Cho hit two free throws to close the half.
The Rainbow played solid defense, holding the Aggies to 39.1 percent shooting from the field and forcing 14 turnovers. Patterson came off the bench to score eight points and grab four rebounds to lift the UH offense.