SEASIDE, Calif. – A late run by host Cal State Monterey Bay proved to be the difference as the San Francisco State women's basketball team fell 71-66 on the road on Friday night at the Kelp Bed. The Gators led by two with 8:03 in the fourth quarter but could not hold on the for road win.
SF State (2-20/0-15 CCAA) had a very strong night offensively, with every Gator who saw action scoring at least one bucket. The Gators shot 40.3 percent from the field, the fifth best field goal percentage of the season. For the sixth time this season, and fifth-straight game,
Donae Moguel recorded a double-double. She finished with a team-high 13 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds.
Joining Moguel in double figures was
Kaitlin DaDalt who scored 12 points coming off the bench. Also making a big contribution to the Gators on offense was
Felicia Villarruel with nine points,
Jasmine Black with eight and
Kayla Watterson with six points and eight rebounds.
Cal State Monterey Bay (6-17/3-13 CCAA) was led by McKenna Hill's game-high 23 points. She was one of three Otters in double figures.
The game was a tight contest, featuring seven ties and seven lead changes. SF State trailed early, going down 14-9 to end the first quarter. The second quarter belonged to the Gators. SF State went on a 15-6 run over the final six minutes of the quarter to take a 32-28 lead into the half.
DaDalt provided the Gators spark, she hit a jumper and got fouled with 4:00 minutes on the clock in the second, she hit a free-throw for a three-point play to tie the game at 23 apiece. Villarruel hit a jumper on the next possession for SF State's first lead of the contest.
To begin the second half, the Otters went on a big run, going up 10 thanks to a 21-7 run. However, the Gators did not wilt, going on a 13-2 run of their own. Watterson tied the game with a layup, and DaDalt gave SF State the lead as the third quarter expired, hitting a 3-point bucket.
In the fourth quarter, the Otters turned to the combination of Victoria Dorn and Hill who scored 13 points in the final period. Including the go-ahead bucket with 7:26 in the game.
The Gators will return to action tomorrow night when they travel to Hayward, Calif., to take on Cal State East Bay at Pioneer Gymnasium. Tip off for Saturday's contest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
