The San Diego State women’s basketball team is now on a three-game winning streak after defeating the University of Wyoming 66-43 last Saturday.
In the first 30 seconds of the game, the Cowgirls scored the first points and were pushing for an early lead. However, senior center Malia Nahinu made a jump shot that quickly tied the game 2-2 and showed Wyoming the Aztecs were ready to battle.
From then on, the Cowgirls spent the entire first half trying to catch up to SDSU, but the Aztecs worked hard as a team to keep
the lead.
“Every person did what they needed to do to guard what I think is the best offensive team in the league,” head coach Beth Burns said.
Senior guard Courtney Clements scored 9 points in the first half along with sophomore forward Erimma Amarikwa with 7, Nahinu with 6 and senior guard Chelsea Hopkins with 5 ponts.
SDSU outscored Wyoming 30-23 and shot 44 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Once the Aztecs returned to the court, they continued to build their lead and the Cowgirls struggled to keep up.
SDSU continued to attack and score until the final minutes.
Senior forward Gabrielle Clark shot the last 3-pointer of the game with four minutes left and senior guard Niki Novak ended the game with a jump shot that finalized SDSU’s 23-point lead.
SDSU had four players who hit double-digits. Clements led the team with 18 points, Hopkins followed with 14, Nahinu ended up with 12 and Amarikwa with 11 points. Hopkins, however, led the team with eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Aztecs made 26 points
off of the Cowgirls, 17 turnovers and shot 44 percent from
the field.
SDSU had a 37-30 rebounding advantage against Wyoming
and made 10 of the 13 free
throws attempted.
The game that started the Aztec’s winning streak took place last Monday against Colorado State University where SDSU traveled to beat the Rams 48-44. The Aztec defense held Colorado scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the game.
Continuing the streak last Wednesday, SDSU beat the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 74-60, where Hopkins hit triple-double digits for the second time in her career.
SDSU’s team record is now 12-5, 3-1 in the Mountain West, which ties it with Fresno State.
Tomorrow night the Aztecs will look to continue their winning streak as they face off against the University of Nevada, Reno, at 7 p.m. at Viejas Arena.
“I think more than anything else this was just a game that we felt good about and learned from all the positive things,” Burns said. “Then we’ll turn right back around and get ready for Nevada.”
