ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State women's basketball team erased a 13-point first half deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter before ultimately succumbing to San Francisco State 61-55. The Seawolves closed the opening weekend of CCAA play with a 1-1 record.
SSU found themselves down early on as the Gators jumped out to an 8-2 early advantage. Baskets by
Aaryn Pickett,
Alli McDonald and a 3-pointer from
Taylor Johnson closed the gap to 14-10 later in the quarter. SFSU closed the first with the final five points and took a 19-10 lead into the second.
The margin swelled to as many as 13 at the 3:31 mark with the visitors ahead 34-21. The Seawolves began to chip away to close the half with four straight free-throws and a triple from McDonald to make it an eight-point game at the break.
Jayme Blackard opened the third with a driving floater and Pickett knocked down a three to quickly pull the Seawolves back within three. SFSU did a good job keeping Sonoma at arms-length, holding a 45-40 lead at the end of three.
Johnson make it a one-possession game in the opening minute of the fourth with a jumper as the Seawolves continued to hang around. Trailing by six with under seven minutes to play, Sonoma made their final run and tied the game at 50-50. Johnson drained her fourth triple of the contest and
Camille Johnson added a layup plus the foul to tie the score at the 4:52 mark. However, that would not last long as the Gators scored the next nine points to put the game away for good. '
The Seawolves outshot the Gators 39% to 34% and held a 44-31 rebound advantage. The difference in the game came down to turnovers with SSU committing 27 that led to 22 San Francisco State points.
Johnson led the way with 14 points while Pickett added ten and Blackard tacked on eight. Pickett and Blackard each picked up three teams. Shauna grabbed a season high 11 rebounds with
Zane Sheckherd adding nine off the glass.
The Seawolves continue conference play next week with a trip north to take on Chico State on Saturday.
