SAN FRANCISCO – Struggles in the second half were too much for the San Francisco State women's basketball team as they dropped Saturday's contest 71-59 to visiting Cal State San Bernardino.
Jhaina Stephens led all scorers with 16 and added eight boards.
Amani Alexander added 11 for her second double-digit scoring performance of the season.
Jacqueline Moss added nine off the bench with five rebounds while
Kaleigh Pugh posted seven in her second consecutive start.
The Gators (4-9/2-8 CCAA) outshot the Coyotes (6-8/4-6 CCAA) from three-point range but struggled from the line for the second-straight game, converting just 46 percent (11-of-24). SF State was also outrebounded 41-29 in the contest.
Rachel Iozzia picked up where she left off on Friday by draining a three off an assist from
Erika Nilsen to give the Gators a 4-2 lead early on. SF State pushed their lead to five at the six-minute mark as Stephens dropped back-to-back buckets and
Tyiteyana Jefferson followed with a layup to make it a 10-5 game. The Coyotes took the 14-11 lead with just under two minutes to go in the first quarter, but Pugh hit a free throw in the closing seconds to knot the score at 14-all.
Stephens regained the Gator advantage with a layup off a dish from Jefferson 11 seconds into the second quarter, which began an 8-0 run for SF State as they took a 22-14 lead. With 4:20 left in the half Moss drained one from deep off a helper from Brown, and Alexander joined the scoring with a triple of her own the next possession as the Gators took a 29-18 lead, their largest of the night. San Bernardino only scored 24 points in the first half, which is the second-lowest amount allowed by SF State in the first 20 minutes all season.
The Coyotes bounced back in the third with baskets from Kaitlyn Parks and Ashley Carson to tie it a 33-all, and a pair from the charity stripe from Carson regained the visitor lead. San Bernardino utilized a 16-2 run in the third to take a 40-33 lead and went into the final quarter up 47-37. The Gators shot just 10 percent (1-of-10) in that period while scoring just six points, the least posted in a quarter all year.
Moss' jumper began an 8-0 run for SF State in the fourth as the Gators now trailed just 47-45. The Coyotes answered and went back up by nine following two from Carson at the line with under three to go. SF State continued to battle with big baskets from Alexander and Moss, however San Bernardino kept a formidable lead down the stretch en route to the 71-59 victory.
Up Next
The Gators hit the road again to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills on Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video for the contest will be provided, and be sure to follow
@sfstate_wbb for in-game updates.
