By Derrick Ow — Reporter
The loss is still stinging for the San Jose State women’s basketball team. The Spartans record breaking season ended in a 94-68 loss to rival Fresno State in the semifinals of the 2020 Mountain West tournament.
This season did not start out with high expectations. They were picked last in the Mountain West media poll. Most teams would play to that expectation, but not for the Spartans.
Head coach Jaime Craighead’s squad is here to stay and will win the Mountain West next season. In the words of LaVar Ball, “I spoke it into existence”. The Spartans had the largest win turnaround in the nation. In 2019, they just won six games. In 2020, the Spartans won 19 games and finished fourth in the conference.
Unlike most women’s college basketball teams, SJSU’s success was not because of a superstar like Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon. The Spartan’s success was because of an all-around team effort.
Sophomore guard Ayzhiana Basallo and junior forward Tyra Whitehead will be causing havoc next season for opponents. That led to the beginning of a guard-forward tandem that could lead to their first NCAA tournament berth next season.
Basallo led the conference with 18.5 points per game and won Mountain West Newcomer of the Year. Whitehead averaged a double-double with 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
The Spartans will lose their captain Fieme’a Hafoka and center Alexis Harris, but will have their supporting cast of Raziya Potter, Danae Marquez and Courtesy Clark all returning next season. They will no longer be the best-kept secret in the Mountain West. And of course, the fresh recruiting class led by Sofia Jones.
For the first time in program history, there will be high expectations on San Jose State women’s basketball.
I will leave you with this stat. SJSU was 7-6 in games decided by one to five points. If they could change that record next season, we will be covering a Selection Sunday.
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