Aikman Fang (@AikmanFang) – SJSU women’s basketball Beat Reporter
San Jose State Women’s Basketball (2-16, 0-7 MW) lost 77-70 to Air Force (9-10, 4-3 MW) in the Clune Arena on Monday night.
The Falcons coasted to a 77-64 win in their previous meeting with the Spartans earlier this month.
Air Force led SJSU 17-15 after forcing them to commit six turnovers in the first quarter.
The Falcons ended the second quarter on a 9-0 run and extended their lead to 39-30.
The Spartans shot an efficient 12-22 from the field but also committed 11 turnovers in the first half.
Sophomore forward Marisa Davis-Jones led all scorers with 14 points off 6-7 shooting at the intermission.
Freshman guard Sabrina Ma also provided 11 points off a perfect 4-4 from the field in the first half.
Air Force started the third quarter with a 6-0 run and led 45-30 after forcing SJSU to commit three consecutive turnovers.
The Falcons shot an excellent 10-12 from the field, while the Spartans shot 9-12 during the third period.
SJSU trailed Air Force 63-49 at the end of the third.
The Spartan defense stepped up by forcing the Falcons to miss their first five shots to start the fourth quarter.
Air Force stepped up defensively as well, forcing SJSU to commit eight of its 23 total turnovers in the final period.
The Falcons finished the Spartans 77-70 after shooting 5-8 from the free-throw line in the fourth.
Two SJSU women’s basketball players finished the game with 20 points or more.
Ma posted a career-high 22 points off 8-11 shooting and 4-5 from beyond the arc.
While Davis-Jones recorded 20 points off 8-9 shooting and a team-high six rebounds.
“23 turnovers and giving up 21 points in turnovers. . . really hurt us but I am very proud that I see the growth in us,” said head coach April Phillips.
SJSU women’s basketball looks to snap out of its eight-game losing streak when it hosts Utah State (4-13, 1-5 MW) inside the Provident Credit Union Event Center on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 P.M.