By Matt Weiner (@MattWeiner20) – MBB Beat Reporter
And just like that the dreadful 13-game losing streak is snapped for San Jose State Spartans following a barn burner against Boise State. The 61-59 final score was representative of a hectic never say die attitude that came down to one final Broncos possession down two points.
“To have the blockshot where Cyd [Cydni Lewis] stepped up and made a play,” said head coach Jamie Craighead. “When the ball was on the ground I saw people get in there and that type of hunger and passion to finish a game.”
The Spartans are coming off a frustrating loss against Utah State that ultimately came down to one final call that didn’t fall San Jose State’s way. Saturday’s win was validation that the team could step up to the plate in late game scenarios.
“To close it out, to finish it out, to secure the win with a stop, a credit to them for learning from Thursday,” said Craighead.
A’Tyanna Gaulden led all Spartans with 18 points, due to an electric first quarter when she put up nine points on 4 of 6 shooting.
“I had a talk with JC [Jamie Craighead],” said Gaulden. “She told me to stop being overly passive, but I just took the good shots and knew when to pass it.”
After putting up three points in the next two quarters, she had six of the Spartans 21 in the fourth that helped seal the deal.
Stephanie Torres’ 16 points were good for second on the team and she was the unsung hero of the game. On top of the storm of points, she played a major role in getting stops defensively.
Part of the Spartans offensive success was having four different players in double figures. For many games it’s been Ella Ogier and Megan Oberg leading the way, but this go around the role players were leading the way.
Oberg had a tough day on offense going 1 of 7 from the field and didn’t hit a shot until the third quarter. Interestingly, the frustrating day on offense showed how dynamic of a player she is.
“She’s a presence in the paint on defense, rebounds for us,” said Craighead. “I think you saw it when I would rotate Meg [Oberg] off or Cyd [Lewis] off; they would just pound it inside.”
It wasn’t a clean game overall with both teams surrendering a combined 41 turnovers. When the fourth quarter came around the Spartans only allowed one while the Broncos had five.
Spartans sharpened up when the going got tough and that was the difference.
“They gave me an ice bath shower in the locker room, I’m wet on my entire back side and they were juiced,” said Craighead.
https://twitter.com/SanJoseStateWBB/status/1487563493695913985?s=20&t=0c0XQo_dL2DhCWGeNSmefA
No better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.