Colorado Springs, Colo. – The San José State women's basketball team built a nine-point advantage with just over nine minutes to go in the game, but could not put the Air Force Falcons away and lost 88-77 on Saturday afternoon.
Five Spartans scored in double figures led by Megan Anderson and Raziya Potter's 14 points. Potter, in addition to her scoring, grabbed three rebounds, had three steals, two assists and a block.
Anderson made season-high four three-pointers, has 76 for her career, and is tied with Sherry Yudt (1989-93) for 14th place on the program career three-point list.
For the game, SJSU hit 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from beyond the arc, a season-best shooting percentage from distance. In addition to Anderson, Analyss Benally knocked down three treys and scored 11 points. She has 94 for her career and is two shy of Sara Plavljanin (2010-12) for 11th place on the career list.
Fieme'a Hafoka was 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and scored 12 points. Danae Marquez hit both her three-point attempts and finished with 10 points, three assists and two rebounds. Courtesy Clark led the team with five rebounds, added five points, two assists and a steal.
Through three quarters the Spartans were the better team and took a six-point, 63-57 lead into the final period. SJSU increased its advantage to 68-59 on a Marquez three, 45 seconds into the final quarter, but from there nothing went the Spartans (1-17, 0-7 MW) way. San Jose State was 2-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-9 from the line in the last nine minutes and committed six turnovers.
Over the same time span, the Falcons went 9-for-19 from the floor, went 8-of-11 from the free throw line, and turned the ball over twice. Air Force erased a nine-point deficit and turned it into an 11-point victory.
For the game, San Jose State outshot the Falcons 50 percent (30-of-50) to 47 percent (31-of-66), including 57.9 percent (11-of-19) to 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from beyond the three-point line.
The difference was at the free throw line, where the Falcons were 18-of-28 overall and 10-of-14 in the fourth quarter. SJSU went to the line 15 times, sinking six, but in the fourth made just 3-of-9.
The Spartans return to action on Wednesday, January 30 in The Event Center against the Utah State Aggies. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.