SEATTLE--- SF State's women's basketball team continued where the Gators left the 2009-10 season playing their stellar defense as they held the No. 8 Seattle Pacific Falcons to just 25% shooting from the field and just 46 points in both team's 2010-11 regular season openers. The Gators lost though 46-42 despite getting 13 points from Nicole Hicks (Santa Clarita, California, Saugus High School) and a double-double performance from Dominique Hunter (San Francisco, California, Gateway).

“Seattle Pacific is a top ten team and were not able to manage ball,” said SF State Head Coach Joaquin Wallace. “Overall we need to learn from today's game and look to get better tomorrow,” added Wallace. “However I am proud of our effort.

The Gators opened the first half scoring the first two baskets to take a 4-0 lead, but the Falcons went on a 12-4 run to take a 12-8 lead with just five minutes to go in the first half. SF State followed that with a 11-3 run capped by a lay-up by Hunter as they took a 15-13 lead with just four minutes to go in the half. The visitors cut the hosts lead to just 18-17 going into the locker room on a lay-up by Hicks.

SF State kept its run going in the second stanza on back to back jumpers on Sherika Miller and Hicks. The Falcons took the largest lead of the game, 34-23 as they went on a 16-2 run in the next six minutes. The Gators would not give up as they cut that lead to 42-40 on a lay-up by Erica Greer with 48 seconds left in regulation, but the Falcons went 4 of 6 from the line down stretch to hang on to the 46-42 non-conference victory.

Seattle Pacific forced 26 turnovers by the Gators and held them to 34% shooting from the field. Hunter scored 11 points and had 12 rebounds while blocking three shots. She now is tied for 19th on the Gators' all-time scoring list with 714 points.

Melissa Reich led the Falcons with 8 points and 11 rebounds.

SF State will face Western Washington tomorrow afternoon at 1pm in the Second Round of the Sodexho Classic in Seattle, Washington. Western Washington defeated UC San Diego 82-64 in its first round game this afternoon. 

Box Score