By Sara Biela — Content Editor
Freshman Raziya Potter scored a season-high 17 points and 5 assists as San Jose State women’s basketball (1-5) fell to UC Irvine, 74-66.
The guard scored 9 of her 17 points in the first period, shot 6-17 from the field and 2-6 from beyond the arc.
“I’ve seen her play two back-to-back games where I thought she’s played some of her best basketball,” head coach Jamie Craighead told SJSU Athletics. “She’s making adjustments to the college game, which is always the first step for freshmen. I think she’s doing that nicely.”
The Spartans put on a good performance in the first quarter as they shot 43 percent and outscored the Anteaters (7-0) 17-10.
However, all momentum shifted to UCI in the second as it went off for 25 points, compared to SJSU’s 7.
The Anteaters scored the first 7 points of the quarter to tie the game 17-17, then ended with a 16-4 run.
In the second alone, they shot 83 percent from the free-throw line (10-12) and about 39 percent from the field.
“We shouldn’t have fouled them early in the second quarter. They were already in the bonus at six minutes,” junior guard Fieme’a Hafoka told SJSU Athletics. “That’s what got us. If we eliminated the fouling and free throws, we could’ve done better.”
UCI continued its rhythm as it outscored SJSU 20-16 in the third.
In the fourth quarter, the fouls plagued the Spartans once again as they allowed the Anteaters to shoot about 69 percent from the free-throw line (11-16).
Although SJSU outscored UCI 26-19 in the last 10 minutes, it wasn’t enough.
The Spartans fell to the Anteaters 74-66 with UCI’s Jordan Sanders recording 24 points and 9 rebounds.
“She’s a physical player,” Potter told SJSU Athletics. “She has a good inside game, so I think that was her advantage.”
Hafoka had another great performance with 15 points and 4 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Danae Marquez followed with 13 points and 4 assists.
Forward Cydni Lewis tallied a career-high 11 rebounds to go along with her 8 points.
“I thought she had a quality night,” Craighead told SJSU Athletics.
The Spartans will look to bounce back on the road against the University of Colorado on Thursday.
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