By Mohamed Bafakih (@Moe_Fresco):
The San Jose State women’s basketball team bounced back from last week’s loss at UCLA with a 67-57 home-opening win over Cal State Bakersfield Friday night at the Event Center.
Tied at 50 with 6:04 remaining in the game, the Spartans went on a 9-0 run behind the backcourt of senior Myzhanique Ladd and sophomore Taylor Turney.
“I try to be versatile because if other teammates aren’t hitting their shots, then I need to step up,” Turney said following her game-high 15 points and nine assists.
The Roadrunners (1-2) scored the first two baskets of the game, but the Spartans (1-1) responded with a 13-2 run behind Ladd’s and fellow senior Hallie Gennett’s nine combined points.
In turn, it sparked a 26-10 SJSU lead after the opening frame.
“The energy level was great,” Ladd said, who finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. “Once again, we hustled and we did what we needed to do — playing our game — and that’s what got us the victory.”
The second quarter was much sloppier for the Spartans as they were outscored 16-6 and saw their double-digit lead get cut down to eight with just under three minutes before the half. The scoring drought spanned 4:23 at one point, but SJSU held onto a 32-26 halftime lead.
“They (CSUB) play that wacky zone and we haven’t seen it yet,” said Spartans head coach Jamie Craighead. “Their defense is utter chaos.”
SJSU shot just 38 percent for the game but held CSUB to 29 percent. The Roadrunners were led by Jazmyne Bartee’s 13 points and eight boards.
It was a much tighter second half as the Spartans outscored the Roadrunners 35-31, but the physical battle and an opportunity for Craighead to see her team close out the game was the difference.
“It was big,” Craighead said. “I told them after the game I haven’t seen them in these moments yet. You never know with a new group. There’s not too many people I can look at and go, ‘I know what you’re gonna do in that moment.’”
SJSU faces Portland State (0-3) on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Event Center.
