SDSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OVERCOMES 11-POINT SECOND HALF DEFICIT TO BEAT AIR FORCE 60-51

The Aztecs finish the regular season 22-9 and tied for third in the Mountain West

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 28, 2023 (San Diego) -  The Aztec women’s basketball team (22-9, 12-6) closed out the regular season with a 60-51 win over Air Force (13-17, 8-10) inside Viejas Arena Tuesday night. With the win, SDSU finished in a tie for third in the Mountain West but will be the No. 5 seed due to tiebreakers.

The Aztecs trailed by as much as 11 points in the second half but finished the game on a 32-12 run to finish the year 15-2 at home.

“Our first half was very unAztec like,” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said after the game. “We looked lethargic, and I challenged them at halftime to refocus and go back to what we have done all year which is defend and rebound. I thought we did that and held them to 17 points in the half, so I was proud of how we responded, and it was a great test to have to battle some adversity.”

Asia Avinger led the Aztecs with 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting while also dishing out a game-high six assists. Sophia Ramos and Mercedes Staples added 10 points each and Kim Villalobos brought down a career-high 12 rebounds.

Air Force’s Madison Smith scored 12 of their first 24 points and the Falcons led by six at the halftime break.

Air Force then scored the first five points of the third quarter to go up by 11, but SDSU responded with an 8-0 run.

Asia Avinger had a steal in the backcourt and beat the buzzer at the end of the third to put the Aztecs up 47-45, their first lead since their opening bucket.

SDSU then put the clamps on the Falcons and held them to just six points in the fourth 

quarter.

The Aztecs finished with 36 points in the paint and shot 56 percent from three.

STAT OF THE GAME

SDSU held the Falcons to six points in the fourth quarter.

THE NOTE

This was the second time SDSU has come back from double-digits in the second half this year (13 vs. New Mexico).

UP NEXT

The Aztecs earned a bye to the Mountain West Championship quarterfinals where they will face the No. 4 seed New Mexico Monday at 2:30 p.m. in Las Vegas.

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