By Anfisa Pitchkhadze – Spear Reporter | Sophomore guard Sydni Summers goes up for the layup against SDSU. (Photo by Nick Austin – The Spear)
Nothing was clicking offensively and defensively for San Jose State women’s basketball (10-18, 3-12 MW) leading to a blowout 82-60 loss to San Diego State (20-9, 9-7 MW) on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans never led the game as the Aztecs scoring offense was tough to contain.
San Jose State shot 28% from the field, going 18-64 while San Diego State shot 42%.
SJSU head coach April Phillips acknowledged that missing shots and the lack of defense played a vital role in the loss.
“The ball didn’t go through the hoop for us,” Phillips said. “I think it starts on the defensive end, we didn’t get the stops that we needed early.”
Senior guard Amiah Simmons said the team should’ve been more aggressive on defense.
“We needed to box out more in this game, but we weren’t scared of being down,” Simmons said. “We’ve been here before, so we just stuck together and tried to keep fighting as much as we could.”
The Aztecs started off strong, taking a 23-10 lead and held the Spartans to four field goals.
San Diego consistently kept responding to SJSU which ultimately led to extending the lead each period and eventuallyearning the largest lead, 72-49 with 6:31 remaining in the fourth.
SJSU struggled to keep a close fight as the Aztecs had four players that scored in double figures and won the bench battle, 28-19.
Despite the loss, Simmons was everywhere for the Spartans, leading the team in scoring with 22 points while adding four rebounds, two assists and a block. Simmons has been a top offensive player for the team as she scored double figures in 11 out of the last 12 games.
Sophomore guard Rylei Waugh also ended the game in double figures with 12 points and went 10-10 from the free-throw line.
“We’ll just keep pushing forward and the season’s not over yet, and this is the time that we’re going to come together,” Simmons said.
San Jose is currently on a three-loss streak and hoping to bounce back with a win towards the end of the season.
The Spartans will next head on the road to face Utah State on Feb. 26 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
