SAN DIEGO -- Sacramento State committed 41 turnovers and shot just 26.8 percent (15-56) from the floor as San Diego State defeated the Hornets, 72-51, in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday night at Cox Arena.The Hornets have now dropped their first eight games of the season, tying the worst start in school history (0-8, set by last year’s squad). San Diego State improved to 4-4 with the victory.
In addition to the Hornets’ poor effort from the field, the team also struggled from the three-point line where it converted on only 1-of-16 (.063) shots. Sacramento State’s 41 turnovers marked the third time this season the team has committed 40-plus turnovers.
San Diego State’s Ashonda Williams led all scorers with 14 points as the team shot 40.0 percent (26-65) from the field. The Aztecs, who committed 31 turnovers including 18 in the second half, also tallied 19 steals and 18 assists. Morgan Vargas and Valencia Howard each added 12 points for SDSU.
Sacramento State was led by Danielle Iceman’s 13 points as the sophomore went just 1-of-4 from the field, but converted 11-of-14 free throws. Sophomore Alyson Thurman led the Hornets in rebounding for the third-straight game, finishing with eight to go along with 10 points. Thurman is now averaging 9.3 points and 10.3 rebounds over her last three contests. Iceman also added seven rebounds as the Hornets held the advantage over the Aztecs in rebounding, 45-37.
No team opened up a lead larger than seven points through the first 15 minutes of the opening half as a Thurman bucket pulled the Hornets to within three at the 4:28 mark. From that point, San Diego State closed the first half on a 22-6 run to go into the break with a 42-23 lead. The Aztecs then opened the second half on a 20-8 run to open up its largest lead of the game at 33 points (64-31).
Sacramento State held San Diego State scoreless over the final 4:12 of the contest as the Hornets scored the game’s final 10 points. The 21-point loss was the team’s lowest margin of defeat this season.
Junior Kendra Yancey chipped in 10 points for the Hornets and freshman Tamica Estrella finished with five rebounds in just five minutes of play.
The Hornets will remain in San Diego over the next three days as the team faces the University of San Diego on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.
