By: Javen Takhar (@javentakhar) – Spear Reporter | Guard Maya Anderson drives to the rim during her stand out performance. (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
The San Jose State women’s basketball team (0-1) tipped off the regular season with a loss against Birmingham Young University (1-0) 70-51 on Saturday.
Redshirt sophomore forward Maya Anderson stood out as she led the team with 17 points, a career high eight rebounds, and three steals.
The Spartans shot 60% from behind the arch in the first quarter. However, in the following three quarters, SJSU made only one three-pointer.
This is SJSU head coach Jonas Chatterton’s first season with the team, and he was proud watching the girls fight.
“The biggest thing is we just have got to continue to grow and do better, and we will,” Chatterton said.
Chatterson is a former BYU assistant coach for eight years, his second stint in his coaching career.
BYU finished with more blocks, steals, and committed less turnovers which accounted for their demanding win.
The second quarter was a difference maker for the Cougars, where they outscored the Spartans 13 points to five. All five of the Spartans’ points came from junior guard Allie Cummins. She finished with ten points, a career high.
The Cougars’ fourth quarter lead was cut to 11 points with just under three minutes to go after junior guard Rylei Waugh feathered in a second chance layup. But that would be all she wrote for SJSU as BYU would score eight unanswered points to close the game.
Coach Chatterson and company will look to steer the ship back on course at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 at the Provident Credit Union Event Center taking on Bethesda University.
