by Northridge, Calif. – With a three-pointer at the 5:19 mark of the first period, junior Analyss Benally (Navajo) moved alone into 12th place on the San José State women’s career three point list, but the Spartans struggled most of the night in a 76-40 loss at the CSUN Matadors.
Benally who finished with three treys in the game, now has a team-leading 22 on the season, 83 for her career and sits alone in 12th place passing Kim Skaggs (1988-92). She finished the game with team-high 11 points and is 13 threes from equaling Sara Plavljanin for 11th place with 96 career threes.
It was a back and forth through the first five minutes. CSUN (6-7) led 8-7 after the Benally three at the 5:19 mark, but then closed the period on a 17-3 run to take a 25-10 lead after 10 minutes and never looked back.
In the second, the Spartans failed to score in the first eight minutes and by the time Fieme’a Hafoka hit a bucket it was 38-12 and the teams went to the half SJSU was down 40-16. Hafoka was the only other San José State player in double figures, finishing the game with 10 points.
For the first 20 minutes, the Spartans (1-9) made just 6-of-32 shots (18.8 percent) to CSUN’s 16-of-35 (45.7 percent). The Matadors out rebounded SJSU 34-13 in the first half and finished the game with a season-high 64. Channon Fluker, a 6-4 post, had 12 points and 10 rebounds by halftime and finished with a game-high 20 points and 13 boards for her 65th career double double.
The Spartans came out in the third period, turned up the defensive pressure and played straight up with the Matadors. SJSU forced eight turnovers, which they converted into 14 points but still trailed 61-36 heading into the fourth quarter and lost 76-40.
Besides Benally’s three-point achievement, other bright spot for the Spartans came in the final 1:15 of the game. Sophomore Cydni Lewis blocked the 42nd shot of her career and moved her into a tie with Susan Day (1977-80) and Danna Campbell (1996-98) for 23rd place on the program’s career blocked shots list.
San José State wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule on Friday evening at the University of San Diego. Tip off in the Jenny Craig Pavilion is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
