SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State women's basketball team got off to a blistering start but a rocky third quarter proved costly in Thursday's 85-78 loss to visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills.
- Muirae Gomez poured in a career-high 29 points on 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) shooting.
- Ashley Hart turned in a double-double with 16 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
- Madison Corder added 12 points and Taimane Lesa-Hardee scored 10 points.
- The Toros also had four players in double digits, led by Ariana Harper's 21. Ahlisha Henderson had a double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds.
- The Gators got off to a hot start, going 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the field in the first quarter while holding the Toros to 18.8 percent (3-of-16).
- SF State was outrebounded 53-31.
The Gators jumped out to a 10-1 lead and led by as many as 15 en route to a 23-10 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
However, the injury-riddled Gators roster only had seven active players and got even thinner when Taimaine Lesa-Hardee was whistled for her third foul at the seven-minute mark in the second quater. Still, the Gators remained in control. Gomez hit a fadeaway jumper on the block and, on the next trip down, drove to her left to maintain a 15-point lead. With 3:21 to go, things got dicey again when
Jasmin Asher picked up her third foul on an offensive foul. The Gators entered the locker room at the half with a 42-30 lead.
The Toros grabbed the momentum in the third quarter and the Gators never recovered. SF State was outscored 29-13 in the period. At the six-minute mark, the Gators missed a fast-break opportunity and two putbacks. Henderson made the Gators pay with a banked-in three-pointer in transition. Cal State Dominguez Hills had a chance to tie the game with a steal and a three-pointer but the Gators grabbed the rebound and Gomez made one of two free throws to keep it a two-possession game. However, the Toros came away with four quick steals and the Gators suddenly found themselves trailing 59-55 headed into the final quarter.
The Gators trailed by just four but a 10-0 run put the game out of reach with just under five minutes remaining. The Gators cut the lead to six with seconds to go but time expired.
The Gators close out the season on Saturday, February 29 versus Cal State LA at 1 p.m. and all fans will receive a #BeatLA cheer card. Prior to the game, SF State will honor seniors Gabby Jajeh and Jarecxy Privado. The game will be streamed on the CCAA Network and live stats will also be available at sfstategators.com.
