WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Aztecs start 2-0 again

Coming into this season, fans of the San Diego State women’s basketball team had high expectations.
But after the first two games of the season, their hopes are likely to get even higher.
With sophomore forward Allison Duffy and junior guard Jené Morris both out of the lineup for the first two regular season games, SDSU’s newcomers and bench players rose to the challenge and helped get the Aztecs off to their second-straight 2-0 start.
After defeating Northwestern State 67-47 on Friday, the Aztecs traveled up Interstate 5 to face Long Beach State in the 49ers season opener at the Walter Pyramid on Sunday.
Jerica Williams made her first career starts this weekend as she began her Aztec career after sitting out last season because of NCAA regulations when she left UCLA following the 2006-07 season. The sophomore guard struggled from behind the arc on Friday, but found her shot against LBSU.
“Jerica is a very strong shooter, and she has the ‘green-light’ from 3-point range,” head coach Beth Burns said. “She’s the kind of player who wants to be the one taking the big shot with the pressure on. She wants the ball.”
That kind of confidence is likely what gave Williams the edge on Sunday, as she went 7-for-13 from the field, including 3-for-5 on 3-point attempts and hit six of her seven foul shots en route to her game-high 23 points. Williams also led her team in minutes on the court with 38 while grabbing five rebounds and notching two assists.
Junior guard Quenese Davis also got her season off on the right foot, as she scored 16 points with three assists and a game-high five steals.
“‘Q’ had an outstanding game controlling the floor,” Burns said. “She continues to grow and improve every year and her play is crucial to the success of this team.”
SDSU’s season tipped off on Friday when the Aztecs hosted Northwestern State at Cox Arena. Sophomore guard Coco Davis made a quick impression in just the second start of her career, as she netted the first four points of the game, putting SDSU ahead early.
NSU battled back and tied the score at eight, but a 14-2 run by the Aztecs, thanks in part to sophomore center Paris Johnson’s domination in the paint, gave SDSU a comfortable lead they extended throughout the game, eventually winning by 20 points.
Although Johnson’s five blocks, 12 rebounds and 14 points clearly made her the game’s MVP, the strong effort by the Aztecs’ role players cemented the opening-game victory.
Senior Jennifer Layton-Bailes came strong off the bench with 10 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
“I’m really pleased with how we handled ourselves in the (NSU) game,” Burns said. “It’s great to have that contribution off your bench to begin the season.”
The Aztecs now have a few days off before beginning the gauntlet that is the remainder of their November schedule.
SDSU will begin that challenge by first traveling to Hartford to take on the No.1-ranked University of Connecticut on Thursday.

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