ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. – The San Francisco State women's basketball team never trailed in their 69-62 victory over host Sonoma State as the Gators logged their first CCAA victory of the season.
Jacqueline Moss registered a season-high seven points while
Rachel Iozzia also dropped a season best 12 and added nine assists.
Jhaina Stephens scored 16 and
Erika Nilsen notched eleven, giving the Gators three players in double figures.
"Very fortunate to walk off with the win after being up 17 in the second half," said Head Coach
Kristina Danella. "It wasn't pretty, but a road win in the CCAA, especially our first conference win, is always big. I thought we did a really good job of sharing the ball, especially down the stretch. We need to use this momentum going forward against a very good offensive team in Chico State."
The Gators (3-4/1-3 CCAA) stormed out to an 8-0 advantage in the contest, with Stephens starting the scoring and registering six points during the run. Ugochi Anudokem put Sonoma State (2-4/0-3 CCAA) on the board with a pair of free throws and, following a
Laura Lawson layup, hit a jumper to bring the score to 10-4 at the three-minute mark. Moss hit a three to make it 13-5, however the Seawolves closed out the period scoring the next four points to narrow the deficit.
The hosts tied things at 13-all to open up the second quarter before Nilsen dropped one from beyond the arc to regain the Gator lead.
Kaleigh Pugh and Iozzia hit back-to back baskets to put SF State up by seven with just over four minutes to go in the first half. The offense continued to roll as Nilsen hit a jumper off a dish from Brown, and then followed with her second triple of the night to give the Gators a 26-15 lead with 3:14 to go in the first half. Pugh continued the Gator run following a Sonoma State timeout with another bucket to extend the advantage. Iozzia hit a layup in the closing seconds to give the Gators a 32-17 lead as they headed to the locker room at the half.
SF State held the Seawolves to just 20 percent (6-of-30) shooting in the first half while Gators themselves shot 44 percent (14-of-32), including 36 percent (4-of-11) from deep in the first 20 minutes.
Tyiteyana Jefferson hit a layup off a nice assist from Iozzia to give the Gators a 34-17 lead in the second half. Both sides continued to trade baskets, with Moss and then Iozzia each draining a three to put SF State up 47-33 towards the end of the third quarter. Meanwhile the Seawolves found their offensive stroke in the period as they shot 47 percent (9-of-19) in a 21-point quarter to make it a 50-38 game.
Stephens hit a jumper to begin the final ten minutes of regulation to put the Gators up 52-38, and followed with a layup en route to her 16-point performance. Kim Savo knocked one down in the paint to bring Sonoma State within 13, however Jefferson answered going the other way to put the visitors back up by 15. The Seawolves continued to pressure, and a Joice Beda layup started a 6-0 run to make it a four-point game with 1:50 remaining in regulation. Iozzia, Lawson and Stephens all hit clutch free throws down the stretch as the Gators notched their first conference win of the season, 69-62
Up Next
The Gators take a quick trip up to Chico, California to battle the Wildcats this Saturday, Dec. 7
th at 5:30 p.m.. Live stats, video and radio for the contest will be provided, and be sure to follow
@sfstate_wbb for in-game updates.
