IRVINE, Calif. – A much-improved San José State team held a late lead against the Big West's preseason favorites before narrowly dropping Tuesday night's season opener.
The Spartans led by one with 90 seconds remaining and had a chance to tie on the game's final possession but host UC Irvine ultimately escaped with the 79-77 victory.
"I thought we had great balance both inside and outside tonight," said head coach Jamie Craighead. "We scored both ways but the turnovers determined our fate. It was a good effort and now we've got to move on and get ready for our next one."
SJSU finished the night shooting at a 92 percent clip from the charity stripe and led the Anteaters both on the glass (out-rebounding its opponent 42-38) and defensively, making 11 steals.
It was a strong start on the offensive end of the floor that allowed the visitors from San José to create some initial separation.
After trailing 11-10 early, San José State used a quick 7-0 run to grab a 17-11 lead with 90 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Senior Fieme'a Hafoka keyed the burst, netting her first two field goals of the season with a pair of jumpers in just over a one minute span.
Hafoka would finish the first game of her final collegiate season with eight points and eight rebounds.
The rest of the half was played fairly even as the home team ultimately took a 42-38 advantage into the locker rooms. Guard Megan Anderson led all players at the break, hitting on 3-of-4 from three-point range en route to 11 points.
In similar fashion to the first half, the contest's final 20 minutes were an intense, back-and-forth affair. The Spartans led by one heading into the fourth quarter but would trail by as many as seven at two different points in the game's final stanza.
We've got shooters!@meg44anderson hits and we're even here in the second half. pic.twitter.com/ThAtPLY4xu
— San Jose State WBB (@SanJoseStateWBB) November 6, 2019
Playing in her first game as a Spartan, Wake Forest transfer Tyra Whitehead converted a huge and-one with 26 seconds remaining to pull her team to within a point at 78-77.
A frantic comeback attempt would prove to come up just short, however, as UC Irvine made one more free throw and got a decisive defensive stop on the ensuing possession to seal the deal on its 79-77 victory.
It was the team's pair of transfers who led the way on Tuesday as Whitehead finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds and guard Ayzhiana Basallo added 20 points of her own. Anderson was the other Spartan in double figures, dropping 14 points on a 4-of-5 night from three-point range.
"Both of them are fitting in nicely with our group," Craighead said when asked about her two transfer players. "Tyra and Ayzhiana's play allows people like Megan and Fieme'a to play more specific to their roles and comforts. It feels like they have been with us a lot longer based on how they're playing."
SJSU fans will get a chance to see the newcomers blend with the returnees as the team returns to action on Friday night, hosting its home opener against Eastern Washington. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.