Aggie women lead all the way against SDSU
Utah State’s women’s basketball team held on to defeat the San Diego State Aztecs 53-47. It was the first game since their largest loss of the season, a 23-point blowout in the Spectrum to Wyoming.
The first quarter was both a defensive and an offensive showcase for the Aggies. The team shot 60 percent (9-of-15) and held the Aztecs to 19 percent (3-of-16). San Diego State came in Saturday having notched at least 10 3-pointers in their last three games, the only team in the Mountain West conference with that statistic.
“That’s one of the reasons we started Antoina [Robinson],” said Aggie head coach Jerry Finkbeiner. “Her length on 3-point shooters.”
San Diego State would continue to fight back, coming within three points of the Aggie lead. Junior guard McKynzie Fort led the scarlet and black with 10 points. The halftime lead would be padded at the buzzer, as sophomore guard Rachel Brewster drilled a 3-pointer to push the lead to 28-22.
Brewster was tied for leading the team in points and boards: five points with freshman forward Hailey Bassett, and four rebounds with sophomore center Deja Mason.
Utah State would struggle in the third quarter however, shooting 4-of-18 from the field, including a 1-for-16 skid to end the quarter. Brewster would be the white and blue’s brightspot, scoring eight in the third.
“I just wanted to not stress so much about making shots,” Brewster said.
The Aggies would correct their mistakes going into the fourth quarter. Brewster’s scoring streak from the third would carry into the final ten minutes. Antonia Robinson, fresh off of her 1-game suspension in the UNLV tussle, swatted a shot, which sent Brewster streaming down the court. Brewster lay-up, Aztec timeout.
“I had to talk to my mom to help bring back my focus,” Robinson said. “I’ve never been on social media like that before.” Robinson would finish the game with three rejections, two of which were on the same Aztec possession in the third quarter.
But the battling was just beginning. The Aztecs made back-to-back 3-pointers within 40 seconds, bringing them within three points with three minutes to go. That would be the closest the game became, as the Aggies turned their defense up to 11.
With under 20 seconds to go, Brewster forced a turnover by SDSU’s Fort which wound up in the hands of Robinson. She would be fouled and make both of her free throws. Brewster would be fouled 10 seconds later, and Brewster nailed both of hers from the line as well.
Brewster would finish with a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Aggies in both categories, while Robinson added 12 points. The Aggies will go onto to visit Colorado State, who earned the top spot in the MW preseason poll.