ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State women's basketball team scored five points in the final 1:18 to overtake Stanislaus State in a 72-71 victory on Thursday evening.
Alli McDonald finished with a career high 29 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists while sinking five free-throws in the final minute to lift the Seawolves to 4-6 on the season.
SSU started fast, running out to a 12-7 lead in the opening minutes behind seven quick points from McDonald. She opened the game with a pair of freebies and a layup before knocking down a 3-pointer at the 5:35 mark to give Sonoma State a five-point advantage.
Camille Johnson would later added five points off the bench including a triple in the final minutes to make it 23-17. The Warriors closed the quarter with a 7-1 run and ended the first with the two teams tied at 24-24.
Stanislaus State took their first lead in the opening minutes of the second with a strong push to go ahead 30-26. The Seawolves responded with a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 40-32 lead.
Amanda Luckett and
Cielo Gonzalez started the run with
Taylor Johnson's 3-pointer and
Emerson Herrmann's layup finishing it off. McDonald added another basket before halftime as Sonoma State would lead 42-36 at the break.
Kianna Maldia and
Jayme Blackard opened the third with back-to-back baskets to give the Seawolves their first double digit advantage of the night. After it moved to eleven the Warriors answered back with a 10-0 run and pulled to within one at the halfway point of the third. McDonald ended the run with a pair of baskets and the Seawolves took a four-point lead into the fourth.
McDonald was not done, starting the fourth off with a three and later Luckett added a layup to make it 67-61 as the game moved under five minutes. The Warriors went on another run from there with eight straight up points and took the lead with just over one-minute left in the contest. From there it was all McDonald as she drew a foul and make one free-throw to make it a one-point game. After getting a rebound on the defensive end she was fouled again and make both freebies to put the Seawolves back on top. Stanislaus State turned the ball over on the next possession and McDonald was fouled again with 17 ticks remaining. She calmly sank both and put SSU ahead by three. The Warriors missed a 3-pointer on their final possession and put the rebound in but with just 0.7 seconds left it was too-little, too-late.
McDonald's career night was one of the best performances in school history. Her 29 points were the most since 2007 while the 15 rebounds have only happened once since 2012. McDonald hit 9 of 12 shots from the field and 9 of 10 from the charity stripe while adding a career high five assists as well. Gonzalez tacked on 9 points and 4 assists with Luckett recording a career best four steals.
The Seawolves are back in action at The Wolves' Den on Saturday afternoon when they host Chico State at 1:00 pm.
