By Nick Austin – Senior Staff Writer | Guard Sydni Summers in a defensive stance against Colorado State (photo courtesy of Brenda Castillo – Spear Reporter)
After a close first half, San Jose State women’s basketball lost touch with Colorado State Tuesday as they lost 90-70.
The Spartans led 38-36 at the half, but fell short as Colorado State outscored SJSU 54-32 in the second half.
“We just kind of got away from the things that were really working to our advantage,” SJSU women’s basketball head coach April Phillips said.
Colorado State freshman guard Kloe Froebe shined in the Rams win as she posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
“She was really scrappy, a hustle player,” sophomore guard Sydni Summers said. “That’s something we have to be able to stop right then and there, and it took too long to be able to fix it at that time.”
The Spartans were able to keep the Rams leading scorer, forward Emma Ronsiek, in check as she only posted 10 points on 3-12 field goal shooting.
However, the Rams had five players outside of Ronsiek in double-figures scoring.
“Teammates step up and they do some things outside of what their typical role is,” Phillips said when asked about the team effort from Colorado State.
Turnovers were another key to the Spartans’ loss, as they turned the ball over 16 times to the Rams 7.
The third quarter was ultimately the Spartans’ undoing in that category and the game, as they were outscored 32-16 and committed six turnovers while the Rams committed zero.
The night did start with some positives as seniors Amiah Simmons, Hennie Van Schiak, Marisa Davis-Jones, Finau Tonga and Djessira Diawara were honored before the game, with it being the last of their collegiate career.
“I built a sisterhood with them, so it’s gonna hurt to see them go,” Summers said. “I’m going to miss them a lot.”
Coach Phillips pointed out that while the bar is set higher than where the team ended, this senior class helped move the program forward.
“It’s been a good experience to watch them grow, to go through the ups and downs together,” Phillips said. “You’re going to remember the lunches, the dinners on the road, the little frivolous things, is what you’ll really remember when you look back on your college career.”
