SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Seniors Amber Gregg and Ashleigh Franklin combined to score 35 points, but it wasn’t enough, as the UTSA women’s basketball team fell to San Diego State, 72-52, in Tuesday's opening game of the Surf ‘N Slam at San Diego State at Viejas Arena.
Gregg went 6-for-11 from the floor for 18 points, while Franklin hit 7-of-8 free throws and finished with 17 to go along with nine rebounds for the Roadrunners (4-8).
Paris Johnson led four players in double figures with 14 points to pace the host Aztecs (6-5).
San Diego State scored the game’s first eight points. The run was highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Courtney Clements and Sajoyia Griffin. The lead grew to nine before a 7-0 UTSA run cut the deficit to two at 17-15.
Gregg and Franklin combined to score 16 of the Birds' first 18 points with sophomore Cori Cooper providing the only other offense.
The Aztecs rebuilt the lead thanks to Melissa Sweat, who netted eight of her 11 points in less than a minute for a 29-18 advantage with five-and-a-half minutes remaining on the clock. Coco Davis’ rebound and basket with three seconds to play in the half stretched the margin to 13 at halftime (40-27).
San Diego State shot a blistering 53.3 percent in the frame, including 54.4 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, UTSA committed 12 turnovers to just three assists in the stanza.
A Johnson jumper gave the Aztecs a 19-point advantage with just more than nine minutes to play before the Roadrunners chipped away at the free throw line. Franklin hit four consecutive freebies to help close the gap. However, another Johnson jumper pushed the lead to 20, while buckets by senior Ashley Gardner, who scored nine second-half points, and Malia Nahinu provided the final margin.
UTSA held the Aztecs to 41 percent shooting in the second half but shot just 33 percent in the half.
The Roadrunners will wrap up play at the two-day tournament on Thursday night against Drexel (7-3). Tip in the consolation game is slated for 7 p.m. (CT).
