LAHAINA, Hawaii – San José State rallied from 18 points down to pull within one possession before ultimately falling at the buzzer in Thursday's Maui Jim Maui Classic finale against Northern Arizona.
The Spartans (8-5) outscored the Lumberjacks 17-11 in the fourth quarter but were eventually axed on the final possession in the 67-64 defeat. SJSU ended the night with a 15-11 advantage in fastbreak points and a 14-12 edge in bench points.
"It meant the world to me to get the opportunity to play here," said senior and Maui native Fieme'a Hafoka after the game. "I know that I'm one of the first from Maui to play Division I basketball, but I definitely won't be the last. I know it's just going to get bigger and better from here on out."
Making just her second start of the season, point guard Danae Marquez led the Spartans with 15 points. Marquez finished the night with five three-pointers to go along with four assists.
Some lights out shooting from Northern Arizona allowed the Lumberjacks to jump out to a 30-14 advantage early in the second quarter, however, the Spartans would slowly but surely climb their way back into the game.
A 13-4 run, sparked by back-to-back triples from Marquez and guard Megan Anderson, cut the deficit to 34-27 midway through the second stanza. The deficit was 38-31 at halftime, and a prompt 10-1 run late in the third quarter pulled head coach Jamie Craighead's team to within just three points with two and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
D is dialed in.
— San José State Women's Basketball (@SanJoseStateWBB) December 20, 2019
Spartans back within eight with five minutes remaining in the first half. pic.twitter.com/5aizb9VKQE
Both teams exchanged punch after punch from that point on with neither able to put the opponent away.
San José State trailed 56-47 at the start of the fourth quarter and pulled within two on a pair of Raziya Potter free throws with two minutes to play.
That would be the closest the team would get, however, eventually falling 67-64 despite not allowing a field goal in the game's final five and a half minutes.
Forward Tyra Whitehead tallied her fifth double-double of the season on Thursday, recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. Cydni Lewis was the other Spartan to finish the night in double figures, notching 10 points, four rebounds, four blocks and four steals en route to earning Maui Classic All-Tournament team honors.
The Spartans now set their sights back on Mountain West play, re-opening league action on January 1 at New Mexico. Tip-off for that one is set for 7:00 p.m. (MT) in Albuquerque.