The San José State University women’s basketball team knotted heads on Wednesday morning in San José against the red-hot University of New Mexico that resulted in a 65-54 SJSU loss.
UNM (16-6, 7-2 MW) looked to take care of business against a struggling SJSU team (6-14, 1-7 MW) while playing for postseason dreams in the March Madness tournament.
San Jose hoped to play spoiler for a UNM team that was on a four-game winning streak going into Wednesday’s game, and notch their first win against the Lobos since Jan. 22, 2020.
Junior forward Marisa Davis-Jones led the way for the Spartans with nearly a double-double, scoring nine points and ten rebounds.
“She showed (aggressiveness) going to the rim,” head coach April Phillips said. “She focused on straight-line drives. I think that that percentage will change. I think for her it’s just a matter of figuring out what this year’s game pace looks like. I just don’t feel she’s hit her stride yet.”
The Lobos’ balanced attack, including having five different players lead them in scoring this season, made for a formidable matchup for SJSU.
Conversely, SJSU struggled to play offense and score fastbreak points.
Coach Phillips said the team planned to focus on their half-court offense for this game because the team had numerous new players.
“We’re working and we’re locked in,” Phillips said. “We did some good things. We just got to get all (the) things (to) click on the same day. We’re young — we’re figuring it out about how we have to compete and win games.”
Junior forward-center Amhyia Moreland was a diamond in the rough for SJSU this season, giving fans of the blue-and-gold a reason to pay attention in a season filled with adversity.
The Old Dominion High School graduate is averaging 7.4 rebounds per game and 1.7 blocks per game and shooting 60% from the field. In SJSU’s loss to San Diego State, Moreland put up 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
As for SJSU’s backcourt, freshman guard Jyah LoVett has been leading the Spartans’ offense this season, averaging 14.6 points per game on 41.5% shooting.
The Achilles’ heel for SJSU this season has been their turnovers, as they coughed up the ball at an average of 19.3 times per game and to no disarray, ended up with 16 points in this game.
SJSU opened the game sluggishly, shooting 3-12. On the other end, the Lobos shot 50% and at the 1:45 mark of the first quarter, the Spartans found themselves down 18-8.
By the midway mark of the second quarter, the game had taken a turn into a gritty, physical and ugly game. Defensively, the Lobos were able to stop the Spartans from scoring on offense, limiting them to 10-for-30 shooting.
“Just having the next play mentality (is the game plan),” Davis-Jones said. “Not all losses are really L’s. Sticking with the positives and knowing we followed what we were supposed to do and listening to coach to help make it easier for her to coach us.”
However, the Spartans were able to fight back, forcing eight turnovers in the first half and staying within striking distance. SJSU closed the half by chopping a double-digit lead by the Lobos into a 32-28 Spartans deficit.
UNM came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter, as the Spartans’ first half momentum collided with the physical defense of the Lobos.
However, the Spartans’ feelings towards the game weren’t disappointment, rather a sense of duty towards their work.
“I think today in the second half we came out with a lack of focus,” sophomore guard Sabrina Ma said. “That’s pretty much the point differential. We need to stick to the game plan more consistently. Even if we come back, we need to lock in to that and take advantage of the momentum.”
The cherry-and-silver went on an offensive tear in the third quarter, as their first miss from the field came midway in the period with 5:52 left.
The Spartan’s offense became stagnant late in the game and the blue-and-gold shot 10-20 on layups as evidence.
While Phillips and the Spartans continue their homestand, she and her players remain positive.
The Spartans host the Air Force Falcons (9-12, 2-6 MW) on Saturday at the Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose at 1 p.m.
The Spartan’s next home game is against the Air Force Falcons (9-12, 2-6 MW) and will take place at the Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose at 1 p.m.
“Just having the next play mentality. Not all losses are really L’s. We follow the game plan and do everything we can and sometimes we just end up short. Sticking with the positives and knowing we followed what we were supposed to do and listen to coach to help it make it easier for her to coach us.”
