Aikman Fang (@aikmanfang) – Women’s Basketball Beat Reporter
San Jose State women’s basketball (1-7, 0-0 MW) could not keep up with USC (9-0, 0-0 PAC-12) in a 71-44 loss on Tuesday night inside the Galen Center.
SJSU women’s basketball is now on a five-game losing streak after losing to Saint Mary’s last Thursday.
SJSU started with a 5-0 lead over the Trojans after sophomore forward Marisa Davis-Jones made a turnaround jump shot two minutes into the game. Davis-Jones finished the first quarter with three points.
USC bounced back after a slow start, leading 12-11 at the end of the first quarter. Senior forward Kadi Sissoko led the Trojans with seven points at the end of the period.
The Trojans started the second quarter with a 9-0 run and led 21-11 after Sissoko made a jump shot off a Spartans’ turnover with seven minutes left in the period.
USC finished the second quarter with a 34-18 lead over SJSU. Sissoko led all scorers with 11 points at the intermission.
Sophomore guard Jasmine Singleton and senior guard Jada Holland led the Spartans with four points each after the first half.
SJSU women’s basketball struggled offensively as it shot 6-26 and committed 16 turnovers at the intermission. The Trojans shot a much better 12-29 from the field and only turned the ball over eight times.
The Spartans’ difficulties continued as they shot 4-18 from the field and 0-4 behind the 3-point line in the third quarter. The Trojans led 55-28 over the Spartans at the end of the third.
Fifth-year guard Aarion Nichols led the Spartans with eight points and shot 3-5 in the fourth quarter. The Spartans improved their shooting to 7-18 in the final period. It was statistically their best quarter but it was a little too late with USC securing a 71-44 win.
Sissoko finished with a game-high 17 points, while Nichols finished with a team-high 10 points for the Spartans. Sophomore forward Nailea Nicholas also recorded a season-high 10 rebounds for SJSU.
“We are continually talking about competing … and not allowing mistake after mistake to turn into more,” said head coach April Phillips.
SJSU women’s basketball looks to snap its five-game losing streak when it faces its rival Santa Clara University at the Leavey Center on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled at 4 p.m.