By Jarra Gojolo — Staff Writer
Talk about a night of debuts.
San Jose State women’s basketball defeated Fresno Pacific in a 102-97 overtime thriller Tuesday in an exhibition to open the Spartans’ 2019-20 season.
The Sunbirds, from the Pacific West Conference of Division II, took control of the game from the start. Led by senior forward Cassie Pisik’s monster 27 point, 20 rebound, six assist game, Fresno Pacific extended their lead to as much as 14 points in the second half.
But a couple of new Spartans wouldn’t let their debut get spoiled.
Junior forward Tyra Whitehead scored 9 points in the fourth quarter to help the Spartans storm back and send it to overtime knotted at 89. Whitehead, who sat out a year after transferring from Wake Forest, scored most of her 25 points around the basket.
“Sometimes I have to remind her that she’s not in the ACC anymore and that she should get her butt on the block,” said Spartans head coach Jamie Craighead. “Tonight was like ‘Just go to the block and you can score at will.”
She couldn’t have done it without superb guard play. The Spartans totaled 20 assists to just 10 turnovers.
“I think my teammates trust me, Whitehead said. “And I feed off of their trust. They trust me to allow me to do what I have to do to get them open…we play off each other, we all feed off each other.”
Leg cramps sidelined Whitehead for much of the overtime period, but fellow transfer Ayzhiana Basallo (23 points, six assists) would help finish off the Sunbirds for good.
The redshirt sophomore, who also sat out last year after transferring from Cal Poly, scored 5 points in the extra quarter to help put Fresno Pacific away.
“She’s one of the best point guards I’ve played with,” Whitehead said about Basallo after the game. “And I’ve played in the ACC. Take it to the bank.”
Spartan guards Fieme’a Hafoka and Danae Marquez added 20 and 17 points respectively, to keep them within striking distance.
The Spartans’ first regular season game is at UC Irvine Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
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