By Nick Austin – Spear Reporter | SJSU women’s basketball on the court during its home game against UC Berkeley on Nov. 9 (Photo by Nikita Bankar – The Spear)
A game dominated by fouls and turnovers saw San Jose State women’s basketball (3-2) earn a hard-fought 68-64 victory against Kennesaw State (2-3) Thursday evening.
The fouls were pretty even on both sides with the Spartans committing a team total of 23 fouls while the Owls committed 25.
Both sides turned over the ball at a decent rate with SJSU committing 24 turnovers and Kennesaw State committing 16.
“I’d be remissed to say they didn’t apply some pressure,” SJSU head coach April Phillips said of the Owls. “Obviously it’s something we need to work on a little bit better.”
However, SJSU was able to limit Kennesaw’s leading scorer this season, senior Keyarah Berry, who came into the game averaging just over 20 points per game, to just nine points.
The Spartans started off slow in the first quarter as they struggled with the Owls’ full-court pressure. This in conjecture with ill-timed fouls and turnovers saw Kennesaw State take a 18-13 lead to end the quarter.
SJSU was able to fight its way back as the squad led 36-34 going into halftime thanks in part to one three-pointer from sophomore guard Sydni Summers and two from senior forward/center Hennie Van Schaik.
After starting the season 0-6 from three, Van Schaik had her best offensive game of the season with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“Shooting threes is my role for the team,” Van Schaik said. “So obviously super happy I was finally able to get one.”
Van Schaik said her three-point-making ability opens up the rest of the Spartans offense.
“At one point they were starting to run at me more and I was able to get my teammates more shots,” Van Schaik said.
In the second half, the Spartans were only able to outscore the Owls by two but were able to out rebound them by 10 which was a major factor in their winning effort.
SJSU outrebounded Kennesaw State 43-31 and senior Djessira Diawara led the Spartans with seven.
“I think they just found me,” Diawara said. “That’s part of my game.”
The Spartans were at a reasonable disadvantage from the free-throw line tonight as they only shot 12-21 from the line to the Owls’ 20-25.
Phillips didn’t seem too concerned about the Spartans woes at the line as she said she just wants her players to keep shooting.
The Spartans next game is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Provident Credit Union Event Center versus CSUN.
