SAN FRANCISCO –Despite Dominique Hunter 's sixth double-double of the season, the San Francisco State women's basketball team found itself on the wrong side of a 56-46 count against Cal State Dominguez Hills in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest Friday evening in the Main Gymnasium.

 

The Gators (1-10, 1-6 CCAA) were held scoreless over a critical stretch of eight minutes and 10 seconds in the latter stages of the second half en route to their seventh straight loss, while the Toros (1-10, 1-6 CCAA) recovered from a simultaneous shooting slump of their own to hang on for their first win of the 2010-11 campaign.

 

“Right now, we are not playing 40 minutes of consistent basketball,” said SF State head coach Joaquin Wallace. “Our mistakes are made at the most critical times in games, which has resulted in losses.”

 

Hunter contributed 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with a season-best five blocks to lead the Gators, while Michaela Booker reached double figures as well with 10 points of her own. In addition, Nicole Hicks and Angela Van Sickel finished with eight points apiece, while Kaylaa Davisdished out a season-best four assists.

 

Conversely, CSUDH was paced by Hillarie Grant's 15 points, bolstered by a 3-for-6 effort from beyond the 3-point arc, while Tiffany Smith chipped in nine points and a game-high seven steals.

 

Despite owning a 26-21 advantage on points off turnovers and a 20-18 edge in the paint, SF State was outrebounded by the Toros 44-35 and made six fewer free throws, sinking just four foul shots, while the visitors drained 10 from the charity stripe. The Purple and Gold also suffered from a 19-for-58 shooting performance (32.8 percent) from the floor, including a 7-for-25 clip (28.0 percent) in the second half. CSUDH fared just slightly better, connecting on 20 of its 51 field-goal attempts (39.2 percent) for the game.

 

SF State found itself trailing 10-7 following a Hunter free throw at the 14:14 mark of the first half, before the Toros crafted an 12-4 run, capped by Jessica Cannon's jumper with 9:10 before intermission, to take their largest lead of the period at 22-11.

 

The Gators soon clawed their way back into contention as back-to-back layups by Davis highlighted an 11-3 surge that put the hosts within three at 25-22 with 4:31 to go before halftime.

 

As typical of the whole evening, however, CSUDH continually kept SF State frustrated by draining key baskets to fend off threats by the Purple and Gold. Ashley Hudson's layup immediately following Davis' aforementioned bucket was a case in point as Hunter initially blocked Krissi Sylvis' 3-point attempt, but Sylvis grabbed the loose ball and fed Hudson under the basket for a 27-22 Toro advantage.

 

Similarly, with under a minute remaining on the clock, Hicks brought the Gators to within four at 30-26 on a baseline jumper; however, Grant nailed a triple on the ensuing possession to give the Toros another shot of momentum heading into the locker room with a 33-26 lead.

 

After the break, Hicks connected on a quick layup, but Kayla Huckabee answered with consecutive jumpers to give the visitors a 37-28 advantage with 18:38 to go in the game.

 

SF State managed to keep things close over the next eight minutes, eventually pulling to within two at 43-41 on a Van Sickel 3-pointer at the 10:34 mark. Nikki Boutte promptly answered with a layup on the ensuing possession to restore a four-point cushion for CSUDH, but Van Sickel nailed another clutch basket with 8:46 left, bringing the Gators back to within two at 45-43.

 

Those would be the last points for either side until the 4:54 mark, when Smith drilled a jumper to give the Toros a 47-43 lead. During that scoreless stretch, SF State committed three turnovers, missed two field-goal attempts and another pair of free throws for a chance to tie the score.

 

Instead, CSUDH weathered the storm, taking advantage of two additional Gator miscues following Smith's basket as Hudson converted a layup, while Grant sank a jumper to stretch the Toros' lead to 51-43 with 3:39 to play.

 

Three free throws by Smith and another pair of foul shots Meghan Duron eventually gave CSUDH an insurmountable 56-43 lead with 44 seconds left on the clock before Van Sickel finally nailed a 3-pointer with 36 seconds to go in the contest to end the SF State scoring drought.

 

The Gators close out their three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 8, when Cal State L.A. invades the Main Gym for another CCAA clash. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

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