SAN FRANCISCO – After a sluggish opening quarter the SF State women's basketball team caught fire and scored a season-high in the 75-52 defeat over UC Santa Cruz on Wednesday night at The Swamp. The Gators had four players score in double figures and boasted a season-high with 20 assists in the win.
Offensively the Gators (9-15) could do it all after the opening period. The Gators shot 49.2 percent from the field, going 30-for-61. Four players finished in double figures with
Felicia Villarruel scoring a game-high 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
Joining her in double figures was a trio of Gators, led by senior guard
Tatsiana Dashkevich who scored 13 points, while dishing out five assists.
Laura Lawson and
Kiara Ginwright each scored 10. Lawson finished with a game-high eight rebounds, while recording four steals. Ginwright was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor on the evening, while recording three blocks to give her 103 for the season, just nine shy of tying the conference record.
Fellow freshman center
Kayla Watterson had a career-night. She finished with nine points and seven rebounds in an all-around spectacular effort off the bench. Senior forward
Naila Washington was also stellar, finishing with seven points, six rebounds and six assists.
UC Santa Cruz (13-10) finished the night shooting 30.0 percent from the floor, going 18-for-60, they were just 2-for-15 from 3-point range.
After opening the first quarter shooting just 2-for-10 from the floor, the Gators found themselves trailing early. The Banana Slugs led by as much as seven at one point in the quarter. The Gators warmed up offensively, finishing the quarter going 4-for-8 from the floor to trail 17-12. The Gators offense came from Villarruel, Lawson and Ginwright who all had four in the period.
In the second quarter the Gators went on a 6-0 run to take the lead 18-17 over the first two minutes. UCSC quickly responded to retake the lead with a layup in the paint. Both teams then went on a three minute scoring drought. Dashkevich ended that scoreless streak with a layup while getting fouled, the three point play but SF State back out front 21-19.
The two sides continued to find holes in each other's defense the remainder of the quarter. For the Gators, they found their offense in the form of 10 foot jumpers from the baseline. Lawson and Watterson were both very effective from there to close the half. The Banana Slugs found their offense in the paint, where they scored 18 of their 28 points in the opening half.
At the intermission, the Gators went into the locker room with a 31-28 lead. SF State shot 42.4 percent in the first half, going 14-for-33 from the floor. From long range however, the Gators were 0-for-6.
In the start of the third quarter the Gators found their touch from beyond the arc, courtesy of a pair of quick 3-point buckets by Dashkevich. Villarruel got into the 3-point barrage hitting a shot at the top of the key to give the Gators a 44-32 lead midway through the third period. From the 8:04 mark until the end of the quarter, SF State went on a 20-2 run, shooting 8-for-13 from the floor, while holding UC Santa Cruz to 1-for-10 shooting.
In the fourth quarter the Gators added 22 more points to end their night with a season-high. The Banana Slugs added 18 and finished the night with three players in double-figures. They were led by Ashley Holmes 14 points, on 6-for-12 shooting. Defensively, the Gators limited UCSC's points in the paint in the second half that proved to be the difference.
SF State returns to action on Saturday when SF State hosts Sonoma State in their 2015-16 home finale. Tip off for the game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., there will be a pre-game ceremony for the four SF State seniors playing their final home contest in the purple and gold.
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Post Game Video--
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.
