SAN DIEGO - San Diego State used a 14-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to hand visiting Georgia Southern its first loss of the 2021-22 season, notching the 65-57 win over the Eagles at Viejas Arena on Saturday in San Diego.
Georgia Southern fell to 3-1 on the season in the first trip to California in program history. San Diego State improved to 3-1 on the season with the victory.
The Eagles started off the contest cold from the floor, hitting just three of their first 17 shots, as San Diego State built a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Georgia Southern tightened the gap in the second quarter, pulling to single digits to trail by nine at the half, 29-20.
In the third quarter, Georgia Southern knocked down three of six three-pointers and scored the last five points of the frame to take a 43-40 lead. The Eagles led by eight, 54-48, after a Ja'nya Love-Hill three-pointer with 6:09 left to go in the game, but San Diego State embarked on its 14-0 run over the next three and a half minutes to assume control of the contest and claim the victory.
Mya Burns led a trio of Eagles in double figures on the day with 14 points, while Terren Ward added 13 points and Ja'nya Love-Hill chipped in 10. Four Aztecs reached double figures on the day, led by Asia Avinger's 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Eagle of the Game
Burns led Georgia Southern in points for a second straight game, hitting 5-of-10 shots from the floor, including a career-high 4-of-7 three-pointers. It's her third double-digit scoring effort in the first four games of the season.
Stats of the Game
The Eagles held San Diego State to just 34% shooting from the field in the first half, and only 2-of-9 from three-point range, but the Aztecs shot 53.8% (14-of-26) in the second half, including a blistering 75% (9-of-12) in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Quotables • LISTEN TO FULL POST-GAME COMMENTS FROM COACH HOWARD
Head Coach Anita Howard on the fourth-quarter run by the Aztecs.
"I think it was really us. We really didn't wake up just yet, I don't know if that's because of the time difference, but we couldn't get a rhythm going. We did have rhythm in the third quarter, but it was short and quick. Hats off to San Diego State, they have a heck of a ball club. They played their game a little bit better than we played our game."
Next Up
The Eagles complete their first trip to California by staying in the city of San Diego, facing NAIA foe San Diego Christian at 11 PM ET on Monday.
