Aikman Fang (@aikmanfang) – Women’s Basketball Beat Reporter
SJSU women’s basketball (1-5, 0-0 MW) lost to Cal Poly (3-4, 0-0 BW) 62-53 on the final day of the Holiday Beach Classic at San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday.
The Mustangs raced out to an 18-9 lead over the Spartans in the first quarter. Senior guard Maddie Willet led Cal Poly with six points and was a perfect 2-2 from behind the 3-point line.
Senior guard Jasmine Singleton led SJSU with six points off 2-3 shooting in the first. The rest of the Spartans shot 1-For-7. The Spartans improved their shooting to 6-for-14 in the second quarter but still trailed the Mustangs 32-23.
Sophomore forward Marisa Davis-Jones stopped the scoring drought for SJSU by getting back-to-back layups and cutting Cal Poly’s lead to 39-28. The Mustangs responded with an 8-1 run to push the lead to 47-29, their largest lead of the night with a minute left in the third quarter.
The Spartans bounced back in the fourth quarter with an 18-3 run and cut the deficit to 52-46 after sophomore center Amhyia Moreland converted an and-one opportunity with 3:18 left in the game.
The Mustangs went on to finish the game making seven of their eight free throws in the final minute, securing a 62-53 win over the Spartans.
Moreland finished with a team-high nine points for the Spartans, seven of which came in the third quarter.
Sophomore guard Sidney Richards also provided eight points for SJSU, six of which came in the fourth quarter.
“We’re just trying to find that space where we can play 40 minutes. . .and get multiple people clicking at the same time,” said head coach April Phillips.
SJSU women’s basketball looks to snap out of its three-game losing streak back home to play Saint Mary’s on Thursday at the Event Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.