Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO – Despite Angela Van Sickel's game-high 14 points and Farrah Shokoor's fifth double-double of the season, the San Francisco State women's basketball team dropped a tough 46-43 decision to visiting Sonoma State in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest on Saturday at The Swamp.
 
The Gators rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit, but were unable to overcome a 5-for-19 performance at the free-throw line, falling to 7-19 on the year and 6-14 in league play, while the Seawolves improve to 10-14 overall and 8-12 in the CCAA, climbing into a three-way tie for seventh place, along with Cal State East Bay and Cal State San Bernardino in the race for the eighth and  final CCAA Tournament spot.  SF State also remains in contenition in 10th with two games left in the regular season.
 
Van Sickel contributed a trio of 3-pointers to help her reach double figures in scoring for the 11^th time this season, while Shokoor finished with 11 points and a career-best 17 rebounds to go along with a game-high three steals.
 
On the flip side, SSU was led by Marie Sweet's 12 points, while Bronte Sheahan chipped in 11.  Despite getting out-rebounded by a 40-38 margin, the Seawolves maintained a 20-14 advantage on points in the paint and a 13-9 edge in points off turnovers.
 
"Layups, put-backs and free throws are the basic elements of basketball," said Gator head coach Joaquin Wallace. "We missed 15 free throws and missed a lot of layups and put-backs.  We didn't deserve to win and we didn't. You can't win if you can't make fundamental plays."

Both defenses were on display in the first 20 minutes as the two sides combined for just 14 field goals in the opening period.  With the score tied at 6-6, SSU fashioned 12-0 run, capped by Sweet's triple at the 5:38 mark, to build an 18-6 bulge.  SF State closed to within five at 18-13 on a jumper by Nicole Hicks with 2:08 left on the clock, but could not draw any closer, as Sweet drained a basket and nailed a free throw down the stretch to give the Seawolves a 21-13 lead at the break.
 
SSU extended its lead to nine on three occasions in the second half, including a 33-24 spread after two more foul shots by Sweet at the 12:23 mark.  The momentum shifted in the Gators favor at this juncture as Van Sickel tallied eight points during a 16-4 blitz that put the host school up 40-37 with 4:26 left to play.
 
Elizabeth Day soon converted an old-fashioned three-point play to tie the game, while a 3-pointer by Aly Henington put SSU up to stay at 43-40 with 2:34 remaining. Shokoor answered with a layup on SF State's next foray down the court to narrow the gap to 43-42, before the two sides exchanged turnovers on the three subsequent possessions.
 
A basket by Henington in the paint with 44 seconds left restored the Seawolves' three-point bulge at 45-42, before Van Sickel and SSU's Travis Newman each sank one of two free-throw attempts.
 
Trailing 46-43, the Gators had two chances in the last 15 seconds to tie the game, but both 3-point attempts missed their mark.
 
SF State will close out its 2011-12 regular-season schedule next week when it  squares off against Cal State Dominguez Hills (Feb. 22) and Cal State L.A. (Feb. 24) inside The Swamp. Tip-off for both games is set for 5:30 p.m.