Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Savannah State women's basketball squad opened the 2013 portion of their season with a nonconference matchup against San Diego State in San Diego, California, Wednesday afternoon.

After a dismal first half, the Lady Tigers made a sharp run in the second half, outscoring their opponent 40-37. However, the offensive advantage was not enough for SSU as the Aztecs held on for a 72-51 win.

SSU made the cross-country trip without several of their key players. Team point's leader Ezinne Kalu suffered a knee injury in a game against the University of Florida before the holiday break. Forward Erin Hogue and guard Jasmine Kirkland remained in Savannah, recovering from concussions.

Stepping up for the Lady Tigers was Blessing Uba, who led all scorers with 15 points. Andrietta Thomas followed with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jasmine Norman and Charmaine Greene each added 10 points in the loss. The game marked only the second time this season in which four players have been in double digits for the Lady Tigers.

In the first half, SSU went down by five points early, but bounced back as Greene opened the scoring for SSU with a short jumper. Uba added a good jumper moments later to cut the home teams lead to 5-4 with 16:39 to play.

The Aztecs then took control with a 21-0 run in the following 10 minutes for a 26-4 lead with 6:46 to play. Alexandria Taylor broke the Lady Tigers scoring drought at the 6:07 mark with a good free-throw.

San Diego State shot at a 45.5 percent clip in the first half, hitting 15-of-33 field goal attempts.  SSU struggled to sink the ball, shooting a disastrous 13.3 percent from the field.

At the half, the Aztecs held a commanding 35-11 lead. But, SSU emerged from the locker room a different team.

Thomas opened a 5-0 run for the Lady Tigers with a good free-throw. The run culminated with two good free-throws from Uba, making it 37-16. With 17:40 to play, San Diego State's Gabrielle Clark sank a 3-pointer to give the home team a 40-16 advantage.

SSU cut that deficient to 20 points at the 15:03 mark behind a jump shot from Norman. The Aztecs responded with another good 3-pointer. San Diego State sank 5-of-13 3-point attempts in the second half.

Trailing by 25 with 13 minutes to play, Uba drilled a trey to spark an 11-2 run for the Lady Tigers. With 8:38 showing, Thomas sank a jump shot to cut the Aztecs lead to 16 points, 54-38.

Norman gave SSU their closest chance in the second half with two good free-throws at the 6:07 mark, cutting San Diego State's lead to 14 points, 56-42.
San Diego State jumped out to an 18 point lead, 63-44, with just under four minutes to play. Uba responded with a 3-pointer for a 62-47 score.

In the final minutes the Aztecs maintained control, extending their lead to 23 points, 72-49, with 1:10 to play. SSU's Amber Chambers scored the final points of the game, with a put back on a missed shot from Thomas, setting the final score with 36 seconds on the clock.

The Lady Tigers finished the game shooting 30.2 percent from the floor. SSU shot 45.5 percent in the second half and outrebounded the Aztecs 41-37.

The Aztecs finished with a balance scoring attacking, as five player's recorded double figures. Khristina Hunter led San Diego State with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Clark led in points with 13. San Diego shot 47.5 percent from the floor and 35 percent from beyond the arc.

NOTABLE:
This is the first time San Diego State and Savannah State have met, and the first time the Aztecs have played a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Team.

Savannah State has played some incredibly talented competition to open the 2012-13 season. They played a school record four Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams, including #11 Georgia, #15 South Carolina, Mississippi State and Florida.

The Lady Tigers have one more nonconference game before opening a 14-game conference stretch. They host Trinity Baptist on January 7 in Savannah. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.