Dec. 1, 2006
Box Score
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Pacific women's basketball team dropped to 2-4 on the season with a 72-67 loss to San Diego (6-0) on Friday, Dec. 1, at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
After falling behind 10-2 just two minutes into the start of the game, Pacific's offense picked up the pace, pushing the flow of the game into a run-and-gun shootout that better suited the smaller Tiger lineup. In the corresponding six minute stretch that followed, Pacific poured in 21 points to take a 23-19 lead at the 12:02 mark. Of the 21 points, the Tigers dropped in five from distance including two from freshman Jake Kelly (Sacramento, Calif.). The Tigers shot their way back into the game, at one point hitting for nearly 73% of their shots.
The torrid pace took a toll on both teams physically as the game slowed to a near halt as the two teams combined for just eight points over the next five minutes.
Back running for the final 7:12 of the half, the Toreros took advantage of their size mismatches in the post, force feeding their 6-5 sophomore forward Amber Sprague who scored all 13 of her first half points in the paint during the span as San Diego captured a 40-38 advantage heading into the break. Keeping the Tigers close became the job of sophomore Karen Dawkins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) as the sophomore forward took on Sprague in the post, scoring 10 points in the first half.
To start the second half the Toreros went back to what worked in the end of the first half, forcing the ball inside to Sprague to push their lead to eight points at 55-47 with 13:52 remaining in the game. However, every time San Diego appeared as if they were going to break the game open and extend the lead into double-digits, the Tigers responded with a defensive stop that would turn into a basket on the other end.
In response to Sprague, Pacific took advantage of the inside-outside tandem of Dawkins and Kelly. Behind the duo and clutch free-throw shooting by senior Jerise Freeman (Wichita, Kan.) the Tigers clawed their way back into the game, tying the contest at 64-64 with 3:05 left to play.
With both team's in the bonus to end the game, the back-and-forth play turned into a free-throw shooting contest, a contest the Toreros would come out on top in, finishing the game off by scoring eight of the final 12 points, half coming from the line.
For the contest the Tigers were led by Kelly who again topped her previous scoring high as she finished the contest with 21 points on 6-of-17 shooting including 5-of-13 from beyond the arc. In addition to her scoring, Kelly grabbed four rebounds, dished out five assists and tallied four steals. Also hitting double-figures was Dawkins as she scored 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. On the glass, Dawkins pulled down 10 rebounds despite giving up four inches to Sprague inside. The double-double was her second in a row and third of the season.
At the line, Freeman was a perfect 6-of-6 while from the field the senior guard was 4-of-9 to finish with 15 points. She also added three rebounds, a season-high four assists and two steals.
Despite fouling out of the contest with just under a minute to play, Sprague led all scorers posting 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting. She also added seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals to lead the Toreros. Only one other San Diego player reached double-figures as Kelly Winther posted 18 points. Throughout the night, Sprague's baskets primarily came by way of Amanda Rego who dished out 10 assists while scoring nine points herself.
The Tigers will next be in action on Sunday, December 3, as they travel to Moraga, Calif. to take on the St. Mary's Gaels. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:05 pm.
