Ella Ogier (photo by Max Bechtoldt)
By Alex McCreery (@mccreery_alex) – Reporter
The San Jose State Spartans (5-24, 2-16) came out victorious against the Boise State Broncos (8-20, 4-13), 68-63.
The game started off as a slugging match. Both teams matched each other’s scoring, but the Broncos went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-6 lead.
This was attributed to the Broncos’ ability to score in the paint at ease and capitalize on the fastbreak where they scored eight of their 19 points.
Boise State guard Dominique Leonidas started this run with seven points on 3-5 shooting from the field.
After a cluster of fouls committed by the Spartans, the Broncos led by 12 points. This lead was short lived however, as the Broncos let the Spartans go on a 8-0 run. The Spartans made this run by forcing Bronco turnovers and making shots on the other end.
A’Tyanna Gaulden led the comeback with eight points on 3-5 shooting from the field in the first quarter.
Broncos forward Rachel Bowers ended the Spartan run by hitting a 3-pointer. Cydni Lewis then answered with a mid-range shot. After a back and forth, Stephanie Torres hit a tough layup to cut the Spartan deficit to two.
The Spartans ended the first half down 35-33. To start the second half, both teams struggled to score, combining to shoot 0-7 from the field.
The third quarter continued to go back and forth and by the end the Broncos were up 49-46.
The fourth quarter was a nail biter. Ross started with a two-point shot and cut the deficit to 48-49.
Broncos Meghan Oberg was then sent to the free throw line where she tied the game. Shortly after, Leonidas took a hard fall and had to be taken back to the locker room to be examined.
The game remained tied until Leonidas came back onto the court and had the red carpet laid out for her to score an easy layup to put the Broncos up 56-54.
Torres then hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Spartans up 60-56.
After an Abby Muse layup, Anna Ostlie free throw and two free throws from Leonidas, the Broncos struggled to score. In the last 2:44 of the game, the Broncos had no field goals.
This would seal the fate of the Broncos. Muse would knock down two more free throws, but the Spartans scored eight points in crunch time and it was too much for the Broncos to handle.
For the Spartans, Gaulden and Lewis had 17 points and Torres had 14 points.
For the Broncos, Leonidas had 16 points, Muse had 12 points and Elodie Lalotte had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Spartans will play in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament March 6 at 7 p.m.