The San Diego State women's basketball team found itself in a familiar place at halftime with a lead over No. 19 Utah.
However, the Aztecs couldn't hold that advantage, falling to the Utes 63-51 in Mountain West Conference play at Cox Arena yesterday.
A crowd of 765 – many wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness – watched SDSU (13-10, 4-7) drop its third consecutive game.
Meanwhile, the league's first-place team won its 16th game in a row, tying Utah (21-3, 10-0) with Chattanooga for the nation's longest active streak.
“Utah is a very good team and has three perimeter players who are as good as any you will face,” SDSU head coach Beth Burns said. “Their mental toughness and experience versus (our) lack of mental toughness and youthfulness was front and center, which was the story of the game. We just couldn't get a rhythm offensively.”
Freshman center Paris Johnson had her third double-double of the season, scoring 11 points to go with 11 rebounds. Forward Allison Duffy matched Johnson's rebounds and added seven points, four assists and three blocks, one of which sent the ball flying off the court at a rate of speed that would make a volleyball player jealous.
But the Aztecs also saw senior Shana Demus – who is struggling to play through a knee injury that Burns said included a bone bruise and a slight ligament tear – helped from the court midway through the first quarter.
And Utah was able to turn a 26-24 halftime deficit into a lead as large as 13, thanks to a handful of turnovers forced early in the second quarter.
“They have just great confidence,” Burns said. “Regardless of how a game is going, they believe they are going to make shots and they are going to win.”
It was the 14th time this season (and seventh straight) the Aztecs have led at halftime.
However, all three of SDSU's most recent losses all saw midgame leads slip away.
“I am disappointed in our energy,” Burns said. “You can't always win, but the level you play can't vacillate, and it did. We've got to finish the job.”
Added Johnson: “When Shana went out, it seemed like everybody lost something. Like a balloon, it just went pop. We've got to step it up.”
Nicole Vargas: (619) 293-1390; nicole.vargas@uniontrib.com
