By Alex Valle — Content Editor
Taming the Wolf Pack.
The San Jose State women’s basketball team (10-6, 4-1 MW) defeated the University of Nevada, Reno (7-8, 0-4 MW )72-70 in an overtime thriller. Senior guard Fieme’a Hafoka drained the game-winning basket with only one second left to play.
Let’s go over some takeaways.
69 for the Starters
Stop sweating. Tyra Whitehead is back and she didn’t miss a beat. So that’s a great sign for this rising team.
Head coach Jaime Craighead had a shortened bench on wednesday night, only playing eight players against UNR. While the bench only contributed three points in the win, the starters scored a whopping 69 points. The Spartans had four starters in double-figures as they were led by junior forward Tyra Whitehead, who didn’t even miss a game after a scary ankle injury on Jan. 4.
The most impactful player around the rim for SJSU had another double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds, adding two blocks and three steals on defense. Sophomore guard Ayzhiana Basallo did a little bit of everything posting 16 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals. Hafoka and sophomore guard Raziya Potter took over the mid range game as they combined for 26 points on 45 percent shooting.
Consistent Defense
Although the offense was slow to get started, the Spartan defense was consistent throughout the game. They held the Wolf Pack to only 38 percent from the field and 28 percent from deep.
SJSU added 12 steals and four blocks that would result in 20 points off turnovers. The combination of this defensive effort and the high-powered offense fans regularly see from the Spartans, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see SJSU fighting for the Mountain West crown.
Jaime Craighead
Although she is not a player for the Spartans, she has been just as pivotal to the team’s success as any player.
First off, the brilliant play call at the end of the game. To set up Hafoka the way she did, days after she missed the would-have-been game winner earlier in the week against Fresno State, it showed the trust she has in her senior.
How about those in-game adjustments, though? Her basketball mind continues to drop jaws.
As the first half ended, the Spartans were down 33-27 because the offense could not get going. Once the fourth quarter started, SJSU looked like a different team. The Spartans quickly got on a 7-0 run that would be the run responsible for getting this team back in the game. Adjustments like these help elevate teams from good to great.
Craighead just chalked up win No. 124 as the Spartans’ head coach. She will have a shot at No. 125 in Fort Collins on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Colorado State.
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