SAN DIEGO - The University of San Diego’s basketball team (4-6, 0-0 WCC) secured a 70-66 win over Utah State (3-5, 0-0 MW) on Sunday at the Jenny Craig Pavilion thanks to strong defense and Utah’s foul trouble.
Utah State racked up nine fouls in the first half, allowing USD to get to the free throw line. The Toreros made 11 of 15 (73.3%) from the charity stripe. They also improved their rebounding by (pun intended) leaps and bounds, with 42 on the night. In early November, head coach Blanche Alverson set a goal to improve the rebounding margin. Against Utah State they did just that, grabbing 42 rebounds to just 21 for Utah State.
“We have players on the team with a natural knack for the basketball and the rebounding side of it,” Alverson said. “So for us being able to make those stops, give rebounds and give us an opportunity to run was great.”
In the first half, USD shot 53.6% from the field and 50% in three pointers, Lilly Amor hit three of four threes. USD had 14 points in the paint and 11 fastbreak points, showcasing their fast pace.
USD’s pace helped the Toreros maintain a man defense throughout the game. The Aggies played their game in the paint, at times kicking it out to their players on the three-point line. The Toreros maintained their offensive rhythm on top of their defense, going on a 12-0 and 8-0 run in the first half, ending the half up by ten, 45-35.
However, USD began the third quarter with a scoring drought that lasted nearly four minutes and came with three turnovers. In the third and fourth quarters, the Aggies blunted USD’s scoring opportunities when it switched to a zone defense. Utah State outscored USD 31-25 in the second half.
“I think that we need to continue to work on our zone offense,” USD player Hallie Rhodes said. “They came out in a zone in the second half, and it slowed us down a little bit.” Rhodes finished the night with 11 points, two rebounds, and a team-high four assists.
Up by 12 with 2:47 remaining in the fourth, the Toreros appeared to have the game in hand. But Utah State hit three threes in the closing minutes to shrink the lead to three with eight seconds remaining. Utah State fouled and Olivia Owens made one of two free throws to seal the lead and the win, 70-66. Owens was the top scorer with 25.
Freshman Ayla Williams followed up her 16-point, 12-rebound game against Binghamton with an even bigger performance, 18 rebounds and 14 points, earning her WCC honors as Freshman of the Week.
USD now focuses their attention on Big10 team Wisconsin on Dec. 11 at 9 a.m. Watch the game on the B1G+.