Boise, Idaho – Three Spartans scored in double figures and the team had one of its best shooting games of the season, but the Boise State Broncos were even hotter from the floor and defeated the San José State women's basketball team 99-68 on Saturday afternoon.
Raziya Potter led the team with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Mikaylah Wilson, who hit 5-of-6 field goal attempts, and Fieme'a Hafoka, who grabbed a team-high five rebounds, scored 10 and 11 points, respectively. Alexis Harris had a season-high six points and grabbed three boards and Nefer Leon equaled her season-best with five points.
"I think our effort for 30 out of 40 minutes was good," head coach Jamie Craighead said. "Obviously the home team comes out and they probably have a bit more energy to start and we got back on our heals. But we battled back. It was a big deficit at halftime and I thought it could have gotten ugly, but we battled in the third quarter considering the hole we dug. It was nice to see us score against a team that can really play defense like Boise State."
The Spartans (1-13, 0-3 MW) shot at least 40 percent in three of four quarters finishing the game at 43.8 percent, on 28-of-64 shooting. The only better shooting games this season were in the team's 82-72 win over CSU Bakersfield when the Spartans hit 53.7 percent and in an 83-70 loss at San Diego where they hit 44.9 percent.
As well as the Spartans shot, the Broncos were even better. They hit 39-of-67 for the game, 58.2 percent, and never shot under 50 percent in any of the four quarters.
Despite a height disadvantage on the front line, the Spartans scored 44 points in the paint compared to the Broncos 46 points. On the boards, the Spartans grabbed 33 rebounds and held Boise State to 33, as well. It is the first time since the UC Irvine game on December 2, in which the Spartans were not outrebounded. The 33 rebounds given up are the fewest the SJSU has allowed this season.
With the game tied 5-5 a minute and a half in, the Broncos put together a 10-0 run in a little over two minutes and never looked back. For the quarter the Spartans shot 40 percent (6-of-15), but Boise State went 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) and led 28-14 after the first 10 minutes.
The Broncos (12-2, 3-0 MW) hot shooting continued in the second quarter. They made 9-of-18 shots (50 percent) to the Spartans 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) and extended the lead to 21 points at the half, 48-27.
The Spartans played the Broncos pretty much straight up for most of the second half, but Boise State pulled away late in the fourth quarter for the 31-point victory.
Rachel Bowers led the Broncos with 14 points and six rebounds. She was one of four Boise State players in double figures.
The Spartans next game is Wednesday, January 16 at Utah State. San Jose State and the Aggies are scheduled to tip off in the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum at 10:00 a.m. (MT).
