SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's basketball team dropped a 49-40 decision to Cal State Monterey Bay in a defensive struggle Wednesday at the Main Gymnasium. The Gators were unable to overcome a tough night from the field, hitting just 14 of their 57 field-goal attempts (24.6 percent) to fall to 12-12 on the season and 6-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Meanwhile, the Otters raised their record to 10-13 overall and 5-12 in the conference.
“Turnovers hurt us tonight against a team that is fighting for the final conference seeding,” said SF State head coach Joaquin Wallace. “Lack of energy and our inability to make easy shots were instrumental in our loss tonight.”
The two teams combined for 25 turnovers in the first half, as neither side was able to get on track offensively. The Gators raced to an early 12-2 advantage on
ZaLisha Oliver's (Sacramento, California, Luther Burbank) jumper at the 12:51 mark; however, SF State could not provide the knockout punch after CSUMB made just one out of its first 15 field goal tries.
The Otters then fashioned a 12-0 run over a six-and-a-half minute stretch to take a 14-12 lead on LaShawn Johnson's jumper with 6:31 remaining.
However, the Gators went back out in front three minutes later at 18-17 on a jumper by Marlee Rice (Los Angeles, California, Venice) with 3:14 to go. After a Morgan Aycox (Bartlett, Illinois, Bartlett) free throw, CSUMB closed out the scoring in the half on a 3-pointer by Anne Pineda with 28 seconds on the clock, giving the visitors a slim 20-19 edge at intermission.
Both teams battled in the opening minutes of the second half, as
Kalia Williams' (Los Angeles, California, Saint Monica, San Jose State University) tip-in with 12:16 remaining gave SF State its last lead of the evening at 32-31. Following an Otter trey, a layup by Oliver momentarily tied the score at 34-34 with 10:31 to go. However, that would be the last field goal SF State would score for the rest of the game as CSUMB took control with an 11-0 flurry to go up 45-34, capped by Helen Suarez's 3-pointer at the 4:59 mark.
The Gators ended the run with a two
Desiree Butler (Lancaster, California, Lancaster, Pasadena City College) free throws with 3:48 to go, but the Otters responded shortly thereafter with a Johnson triple, effectively putting the game effectively out of reach at 48-36 with 2:48 left on the clock.
Oliver led all scorers with 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while
Donisha Tate (Oakland, California, Oakland, Las Posita College)tied for game-high honors with 11 rebounds. The Otters were paced by Johnson's 11 points, while Dana Andrews pulled down 11 boards and came away with seven steals.
Despite owning a 48-40 advantage on the glass, SF State lost the turnover battle, 22-18, and finished 0- for-11 on 3-point field goal tries.
The Gators will head south for their final road trip of the regular season on Friday, Feb. 20, when they take on UC San Diego in La Jolla, Calif. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
Box Score
