SAN FRANCISCO – The visiting Cal State San Bernardino women's basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit late in the first half to defeat San Francisco State, 64-54, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game Friday at the Main Gymnasium.

 

With the loss, the Gators drop to 1-16 on the season and 1-12 in league action, while the Coyotes complete the season sweep against the Purple and Gold, improving to 14-2 overall and 10-2 in the CCAA.

 

“Quite simply, we did not finish this game, and that has been the theme for us this season,” said SF State head coach Joaquin Wallace.

 

The Gators received another huge performance from Dominique Hunter, who tallied game-highs of 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for her 10^th double-double of the season, while Kaylaa Davis pulled down a career-best seven rebounds. In addition, Nicole Hicks surpassed the double-digit scoring plateau by matching a personal high of 13 points.

 

However, SF State was unable to withstand a furious Coyote rally as the visitors connected on 16 of their 27 field-goal attempts (59.3 percent) in the second half after opening with an 8-for-30 clip (26.7 pct).

 

Sabrina Gonzalez paced CSUSB with 16 points to equal Hunter's output, while Angela Streets (13 pts.), Eisha Sheppard (13 pts.) and Amber Glasser (11 pts.) reached double figures as well. Danielle Shows also came up big on the defensive end with three blocks and three steals.

 

Despite shooting just 11-for-31 from the field in the first half (35.5 pct.), the Gators received a tremendous boost at the charity stripe, sinking 12 of their first 13 foul shots en route to an 18-for-21 overall performance (85.7 pct.) for their second-best percentage of the season.

 

The Coyotes took its only lead of the first half at 5-4 on a layup by Shows at the 15:22 mark. However, Hicks caught fire at this juncture, scoring seven points on two baskets and three free throws during a 15-4 run that gave the Gators a 19-9 advantage with 8:41 to go.

 

A quick 7-2 spurt, capped by a Gonzalez jumper, pulled the Coyotes to within five at 21-16 by the 7:04 mark, before SF State exploded with 12 straight points to build its biggest lead of the contest at 33-16 with 2:59 to go on the clock. Hunter and Sherika Miller contributed four points apiece during that stretch, while CSUSB missed six consecutive field-goal tries.

 

Consecutive baskets by Shows and Sheppard ended the Coyote scoring drought, while a Hunter free throw with two ticks remaining accounted for the 34-20 halftime margin.

 

The game began to unravel for the Gators after intermission as the host school drained just seven shots from the floor in the period, finishing with an 18-for-56 total on the night (32.1 pct.). SF State's seemingly insurmountable lead evaporated by the 8:14 mark as a Streets jumper put CSUSB in front 47-46.

 

Two Hunter foul shots temporarily stalled the Coyotes momentum, until a Gonzalez 3-pointer with 5:47 to go provided the visitors a 50-48 lead they would not surrender.

 

The Gators stayed close, but Gonzalez's jumper and Sheppard's subsequent basket and free throw gave CSUSB some breathing room at 59-52 with just 1:47 on the clock. After a Hunter drained a bucket, Glasser answered with a triple on the ensuing possession to put the game all but out of reach.

 

SF State wraps up its brief homestand on Saturday, Jan. 29, when it entertains Cal Poly Pomona in another CCAA clash, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Broncos (14-2, 11-1 CCAA) remain in second place in the league standings after slipping past Cal State Monterey Bay, 58-55, at Seaside, Calif., on Friday.

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