Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's basketball team ended its 2011-12 campaign on a sour note Friday in a 72-55 defeat at the hands of visiting Cal State L.A. inside The Swamp on the SF State campus. 
 
The Gators (8-20, 7-15 California Collegiate Athletic Association) shot just 27.3 percent from the floor (21-77) to fall for the seventh time in their last nine games, while the Golden Eagles (16-10, 14-8 CCAA) posted a 44.1 field-goal percentage (26-59) and used a timely run late in the first half to help complete the season sweep.
 
“Too many missed layups, put-backs and free throws have been our downfall all season long,” said SF State head coach Joaquin Wallace.  “We began the year with such promise, but we faltered down the stretch.”
 
Individually, the Gators were led by Michaela Booker, who tossed in 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while Angela Van Sickel surpassed the double-digit plateau with 11 points, highlighted by a trio of 3-pointers.  In addition, Michelle Hoehn contributed a season-high nine points, while Farrah Shokoor matched her career best with 17 rebounds.   
 
On the flip side, CSULA featured the two-pronged attack of Jazzi Johnson (15 points) and Lacey Gibbons (14 points), while Devin Riezebos finished with nine points of her own.
 
Despite owning a 52-43 rebounding advantage, the Gators were outscored 24-7 on points off turnovers and experienced a 28-20 deficiency in the paint.
 
Still, SF State managed to keep the score close in the early going as a Booker layup provided the host school a 13-12 edge with seven minutes elapsed in the first half. Just under a minute later, however, a Johnson's tip-in off a missed Tessondra Williams attempt ignited a 10-0 run to put the Eagles in front 22-13 by the 10:21 mark.
 
The Gators then fashioned a 12-2 flurry of their own over the next 5:34 as a Lauren Varney jump gave the Purple and Gold its final lead of the evening at 25-24 with 4:48 left before intermission.
 
SF State could only manage two field goals for the remainder of the period, however, as CSULA closed with a 16-4 rush, highlighted by two Alisha Belt baskets and a Gibbons 3-pointer. The Eagles took advantage of six straight Gator misses and two turnovers during that stretch to build a comfortable 40-29 cushion by halftime.
 
Following the break, SF State was unable to trim the deficit to under double-digits as a Riezebos jumper provided CSULA a 17-point bulge at 47-30 with 17:10 left on the clock.
 
The Gators got to within 11 following Kaylaa Davis' layup at the 11:35 mark; however, Gibbons responded with another triple shortly thereafter to put the Eagles up 54-40, and SF State never threatened again.
 
With a comfortable lead in hand, CSULA was able to maintain fresh legs as its bench outscored the Gator reserves 20-7 in the second half.
 
The Eagles, who earlier clinched a spot in the CCAA tournament, will await now word of their upcoming opponent when brackets are announced later this weekend.