San Francisco, Calif.--- With eight seconds left on the clock and the score tied at 57, it was the Gators' Jessica Hout-Freeman (Fremont, California, Washington) coming through with a jumper from 10-feet out to give SF State a 59-57 non-conference win over the Academy of Art Urban Knights (1-11) this evening at the Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco. With the win, SF State improves to 7-2 (its best start since the 1994-95 season) and finishes its non-conference part of the Gators' schedule with a 6-1 record.

            “Tonight our seniors played inspired basketball against an extremely determined team in the Academy of Art,” said SF State Head Coach Joaquin Wallace. “This win gives us much needed momentum going into the final 18 conference games,” added Wallace. “Prior to the season beginning our goal was to finish no less than 6-1 in preseason and we accomplished our goal.” “Now we have to focus on our next two games against two quality opponents at Humboldt State on Friday and at Sonoma State on Saturday.”

            This evening's game at the Kezar Pavilion saw the two teams combine for 119 rebounds of which the Gators had 60 (36 offensive) and 56 turnovers (32 by the Urban Knights). SF State held the Urban Knights to 34.8% shooting from the field, but the Gators shot just 28% from the field. The Gators did record 20 steals, 5 by Desiree Butler (Lancaster, California, Pasadena City College) (which ties a career high). 

            The first half went back and forth with the biggest lead being a five-point lead by Academy of Art (21-16) with 4:13 left in the first stanza, but the Gators finished the half on a 8-3 run capped by a Butler lay-up to give SF State a 24-23 lead heading into the locker room. 

            SF State continued its run as the Gators outscored the Urban Knights 13-6 in the first five minutes to take a 37-29 lead (its biggest of the game). Academy of Art did not give up as it went on a 13-5 run of its own to tie the game at 42-42 with 11:16 left in the game. In the next five minutes, SF State outscored its hosts 9-2 to take a 51-44 lead with a little under seven minutes to go in the game. The Urban Knights would not go away as they followed SF State's run with a 11-2 run of their own to take their first lead of the second half (55-53) with just 3:53 to go in regulation. SF State finished the game outscoring Academy of Art 6-2 to take the 59-57 victory.

            SF State had four players score in double figures led by Krystle Mays (Long Beach, California, Chatsworth) with a season high 13 points and also a season high with 12 rebounds off the bench. This was her first double-double of the season. Dominique Hunter (San Francisco, California, Gateway)also recorded a double-double with season highs of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Hout-Freeman finished with 10 points while Butler added 10 points also for SF State. Lorranie Etchell led the way for the Academy of Art with a game high 14 points. 

            The Gators will return to the court this Friday, January 2 for a CCAA game in Arcata, against the Humboldt State Lumberjacks.
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