SAN FRANCISCO – A 12-point lead late in the third quarter was almost not enough as visiting William Jessup gave the San Francisco State women's basketball team all they could handle. Ultimately, strong rebounding and stellar free throw shooting proved to be the difference as SF State defeated the Warriors 60-52 on Tuesday evening.
Holding a two-point lead with just over a minute into the fourth quarter, SF State (2-4) needed all five of their free throws to hold onto the win. SF State finished the game 7-for-9 from the free throw line and was 5-for-6 in the fourth quarter.
A jumper in the paint by
Kaitlin DaDalt with 2:01 in the third, gave the Gators a 12-point advantage, their largest of the evening. However, William Jessup would not go away. The Warriors went on a 7-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to cut the lead to three points. Following a rebound on a missed free throw, the Gators lead was just two points with 2:21 left in the game.
Five points by
Imani Smith down the stretch and sealed the win for the Gators who finished the game on an 8-0 run thanks to a strong showing at the charity stripe.
Lauryn Catching was the catalyst for the Gators tonight, when the Gators needed a bucket, she delivered, scoring 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Catching also collected eight rebounds and recorded two blocks.
Joining Catching in double figures was DaDalt and
Donae Moguel. Moguel was rock in the key, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven hard earned rebounds. DaDalt was a rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Gators return to action on Saturday when they travel to Fresno to take on Fresno Pacific at 2:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES
Coaches Quote
"I thought tonight we played just as well as we had to play to scratch out that win," said head coach
Dennis Cox. "William Jessup played us really tough, and that's kind of been the theme as this season has progressed. When people play us physical, sometimes we don't respond and the game gets away from us a little bit. Tonight I thought we played a little tougher, did a better job of controlling the boards. For the most part I thought we kept our poise down the stretch. When they got within reach and cut it to a one possession game I though we really executed and made a couple of plays that were huge, and I'm proud of them for that."
Owning The Glass
For the second time this season, the Gators were in the positive in the rebound margin. The Gators were plus-4, recording 44 rebounds to William Jessup's 40. Four players recorded seven or more rebounds on the evening. The Gators are 1-1 on the year when they outrebound their opponent.
Catching Goes For 20
Sophomore guard
Lauryn Catching scored 20 points once again. It is the third time this season she has eclipsed the 20-point plateau. She did not do it once in her freshman campaign.
Second Half Adjustments
Facing a tough zone defense, the Gators made a big adjustment coming out of the break. SF State shot 34.4 percent from the field in the first half, most of that due to their 2-for-12 performance from beyond the arc. In the second half the Gators attempted just four three-point baskets and settled for higher percentage shots in the paint. In the second half the Gators were 14-for-30 from the floor for a 46.7 field goal percentage.
Gators Strike First
When
Kaitlin DaDalt drove the lane and scored to begin the contest it marked the first time this season the Gators scored first.
Holding A Team To 59 Or Less
For the second time this season, the Gators held a team to under 60 points. The only other time SF State did that was when they defeated Holy Names 66-58. The Gators are now 2-0 when they hold a team to 59 points or less.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
