San Jose, Calif. – Junior Analyss Benally exploded for a career-high 31 point, including seven three-pointers, to lead the San José State women's basketball team to a 84-76 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday afternoon in The Event Center.
San José State (5-22, 4-12 MW), which has won three of its last four games, had four players in double figures and the team did not shoot under 40 percent in any quarter en route to a 44.4 percent (28-of-63) shooting night. In addition, as a team they equaled a season-best with 14 three-pointers, which was set at Colorado (12/6/18) and matched at Colorado State (2/20/19). For the game SJSU was 14-of-32 from beyond the arc, 45.2 percent, and made 14-of-19 free throws, 73.7 percent.
Benally's 31 points destroyed her previous career-high, 17 points against Boise State on February 19, and are the most a Spartan has scored since Dezz Ramos dropped 37 on the Utah State Aggies in Logan on February 22, 2017. The Shiprock, N.M. native's seven three pointers are a career-best and were one short of the program record, but tied The Event Center record which she now shares with Rebecca Woodberry, Danada Smith and Kari Steele.
In addition, with her seven threes, Benally now has 115 in her Spartans' career and moves past Cricket Williams (2000-04) into ninth place on the program's career-three pointers list.
Megan Anderson, who had 11 points, five rebounds, two blocks, a steal and an assist, hit three threes and in doing so became the 12th player in SJSU women's basketball history to reach 100 for her career. Fieme'a Hafoka scored 14 points, had three assist and three rebounds and Raziya Potter added 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Danae Marquez scored nine points and dished out 15 assists, a career-best and one assist shy of the program and The Event Center records, which are held by Williams. Williams had 16 in a game against Tulsa in the 2002-03 season and she equaled Liz Keough who had the same against Stanislaus State in the 1976-77 season.
The Spartans led from the opening tip. Anderson and Benally hit back-to-back threes to open the game and after a Sophia Ramos jumper for San Diego State (10-17, 5-11 MW), Benally hit another trey to make it a 9-2 lead.
The Aztecs roared back to within a point, 11-10, with 5:51 to go in the first, but then Hafoka got into the three-point act. And when Anderson hit her second of the period, with 3:20 to go, the Spartans were up 21-14. They would push the advantage to 10 points on a Cydni Lewis triple with 2:47 to go and ended the period up five, 24-19. For the quarter, San José State made six shots from beyond the arc, equaling a mark they've reached twice this season.
The teams played relatively even in the second, and after a Benally three with four seconds to go, the Spartans took a 41-32 lead into halftime.
SJSU had its biggest led of the game, 14 points at 73-59 with 5:02 to play, on Benally's seventh long distance field goal of the game. The Aztecs clawed there way back and had the lead down to four points, 80-76, with less than a minute to play. But the Spartans scored the last four points to secure the 84-76 victory.
San Diego State had four players in double figures in the scoring column, led by Mallory Adams' 16 points and 15 rebounds.
San Jose State has a quick turnaround for its next game. The Spartans play at Wyoming on Monday evening. Tip off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (MT) in the Arena-Auditorium.
