By Anfisa Pitchkhadze – Spear Reporter | Junior guard Jasmine Singleton dribbling into the paint during a home game against Wyoming on Jan. 29. (Photo by Alexis Corona-Aguilar – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State University women’s basketball (10-16, 3-10 MW) rallied late in the fourth, but fell short in its 59-54 loss against Wyoming (16-9, 10-3).
The Spartans went on a 19-2 run with 3:30 remaining in the fourth period after being down 57-35, the Cowgirls’ largest lead in the game.
SJSU head coach April Phillips said that she is extremely proud of the effort and that the team came out and competed despite the loss.
“I thought we played well together,” Phillips said in a video posted on the SJSU Athletics site. “We finished the game strong and that’s what it’s going to take you down the stretch.”
Senior guard Amiah Simmons scored 12 points in the Spartans late run as she led the team in scoring with 20 points. She shot 9-15 from the field with three steals and four rebounds.
SJSU kept pace with Wyoming in the first three periods, but the team was struggling to take over the lead.
Turnovers were a key factor that led to the loss as the Spartans had 20 compared to Cowgirls nine.
SJSU struggled to contain Wyoming junior guard Malene Pedersen and senior center Allyson Fertig.
Pedersen led the Cowgirls with 21 points while going 8-13 in field goal range. She shot 3-6 beyond the arc.
Fertig ended with 18 points which was the second highest for Wyoming. She went 9-17 from the field and added 16 rebounds.
Despite the tough loss, sophomore guard Sydni Summers contributed to the Spartans offense by ending up with double figures and going 3-9 from beyond the arc.
Summers leads the team with 60 made threes so far this season and her 2.24 three-point makes per game is currently the second highest in the Mountain West.
SJSU nearly pulled off an upset but they have lost five of their last six games.
The Spartans will next host New Mexico on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
