BOX SCORE SAN FRANCISCO -- Marie Sweet dropped in a team-high 12 points and Bronte Sheahan added 10 as the Sonoma State women's basketball team held off host San Francisco State in the final minutes to secure the narrow 46-43 victory on Saturday night at The Swamp in San Francisco.  The Seawolves (10-14, 8-12 CCAA) are now in a three-way tie for seventh place with Cal State East Bay and Cal State San Bernardino with two games left in the regular season.  The Gators fall to 7-19 (6-14 CCAA). 

The top eight teams in the standings at the end of action on Friday will qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament.  Six teams have already clinched a spot and four other teams are still in the hunt to grab the remaining two spots (Sonoma State, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State East Bay and, though two games back of the aforementioned three teams, San Francisco State).

It was another stellar defensive showcase by both teams, but for Sonoma State inparticular.  The Seawolves held the Gators to just 13 first-half points, the fewest points allowed by an opponent since SSU held SFSU to 13 points in the first half on Jan. 13 of last year.  In fact, Sonoma State held San Francisco State to just six points for more than 15 minutes into the opening period on Saturday, allowing the Seawolves to build their largest lead of the night, 18-6 with 5:38 left in the half and eventually led 21-13 at halftime.

The second half would turn into a back-and-forth battle with each team trading baskets on nearly every possession.  However, the Gators would make a run midway though the period, turning a 33-24 deficit into a 40-37 lead in a span of 12 minutes.  The three-point lead for SFSU with 4:26 was shortlived, however, as SSU scored six unanswered points on a three-point play by Elizabeth Day and a three-pointer by Aly Henington to give the Seawolves the 45-42 lead with 44 seconds left.

The game would turn to the free throw line, but neither team could capitalize on their opportunities at the stripe.  San Francisco State's Angela Van Sickel would go 1 for 2, Jaclyn Bisordi missed her attempt at the line, Travis Newman went 1 for 2, Alysa Ito missed her only opportunity, leaving the game wide open for both squads.

With 15 seconds left, Newman, who hit the first of her two attempts, missed the second and SFSU grabbed the rebound and called time out.  On their ensuing possession, the Gators' Nicole Hicks launched a potential game-tying three-pointer, but missed and Ito was there for the rebound.  She was immediately fouled, but her one attempt at the free throw line missed and SFSU would run the floor in the final five seconds to heave a last second three-point attempt, but missed and SSU would hold on for the thrilling 46-43 win.

Sweet and Sheahan led the way offensively with 12 and 10 points, respectively.  Aly Conway chipped in with seven points, in addition to grabbing eight rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.  Elizabeth Day corralled a team-high nine boards and Taylor Vigil had eight.  The Seawolves shot 35.3 percent as a team (18-51).

For San Francisco State, Van Sickel led all players with 14 points.  Farrah Shokoor recorded a double-double with 11 points and 17 rebounds.

Sonoma State will return home for its final two games of the 2011-12 regular season with hopes of reaching the CCAA tournament for the second straight year.  The Seawolves will host Cal State San Bernardino (9-15, 8-12 CCAA) on Wednesday, before top-ranked and undefeated UC San Diego (25-0, 19-0 CCAA) comes to town on Friday.  Both games are set to start at 5:30 p.m. at The Wolves' Den.