SAN DIEGO – Utah State women’s basketball fell on the road to San Diego, 70-66, despite a spirited late rally on Sunday afternoon at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

The game began with an exchange of runs. USD opened with the game’s first six points before senior guard Marina Asensio drained a pair of 3-pointers to immediately make up the deficit for USU. The Toreros then put together a streak of 12 unanswered points before the Aggies again responded, using an 8-2 stretch to cut into the lead courtesy of six points from junior guard Aaliyah Gayles. The runs continued, however, as San Diego used an 8-0 spurt to rebuild a double-digit lead, ultimately entering halftime with a 45-35 advantage.

Utah State was unable to trim the deficit for much of the third quarter until the Aggie defense stepped up to hold the Toreros scoreless for over six minutes of gametime stretching into the fourth quarter. With USD at a standstill offensively, USU managed a 6-0 run featuring layups from Gayles, Asensio and senior forward Rachel Wilson to cut the lead to five points at 56-51 with less than five minutes remaining. Following the offensive drought, the Toreros then scored seven straight to re-establish a double-digit lead. The Aggies attempted a last-ditch comeback attempt as Asensio drained her third and fourth 3-pointers of the game to power a 15-6 run. The effort ran out of time, however, as San Diego held on to secure the 70-66 win. 

Gayles led the Aggies with 20 points, USU’s first 20-point scorer this season, on 6-of-15 shooting, also leading the team with four rebounds, four assists a block and added two steals. Asensio finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a 4-of-8 showing from 3-point range, alongside a team-high four steals and adding two assists. Senior guard/forward Jamisyn Heaton also recorded four rebounds and added five points, one steal, one block and an assist. Senior center Sophie Sene chipped in with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.

The Aggies won the turnover battle, forcing 25 turnovers to 18 of their own, but trailed the Toreros, 19-14, in points off those turnovers. USD also held a 42-21 edge in total rebounds and led, 15-12, in second-chance points. USU led the Toreros both in bench scoring, 20-10, and in points in the paint, holding a 26-20 advantage.

Up Next

The Aggies (3-5, 0-0 MW) return home to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to host Idaho on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. (MT), in the team’s nonconference finale before getting ready for Mountain West play.

Tickets

Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by visiting the USU Ticket Office. Single-game tickets and mini-plans will go on sale at a later date.

Fans can follow USU women’s basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.

 

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