No. 12 Aztec Women Are Upset by Oregon State

Judging from the postgame performance of Coach Earnest Riggins, it would have seemed that the San Diego State women’s basketball team lost a lot more than just a game at Peterson Gym on Monday night.

Following the 12th-ranked Aztecs’ 68-66 loss to unranked Oregon State, Riggins could be heard in the halls outside of SDSU’s locker room berating his squad.

Moments later, he appeared from the locker room and proclaimed, “I’m not talking to the press.”

And, just as fast as the Aztecs’ modest three-game winning streak was gone, so was Riggins.

Indeed, Riggins had plenty to be upset about.

San Diego State guards Penny Toler and Renee Overton each committed 10 turnovers. Toler had nine in the first half. The Aztecs (10-2) turned it over 33 times as a team.

Under the basket, the Beavers were in control, outrebounding San Diego State, 49-46. Countless times, Oregon State kept the ball alive for second shots. Therein lies the reason OSU was able to win despite shooting only 39% from the floor.

“He was upset,” said Toler, who despite her sloppy play still led the Aztecs with 22 points. “Tomorrow (this morning) he’ll be even madder when he thinks of more things so say.”

After the game, Riggins presented his team with a New Year’s Day 6 a.m. practice.

“We’ll probably be out there until doomsday,” Toler said. “The main thing he was mad at was that we weren’t aggressive. There were a lot of times when we would have our hands on the ball, and they would just take it away from us.”

Overton, who had seven rebounds, agreed.

“He talked a lot about us wanting it,” she said. “With our ranking, everyone’s coming in here trying to knock us off. We’ll have to be more aggressive.”

And, they’ll have to cut down on the mistakes.

San Diego State came out firing and built a 13-4 lead six minutes into the contest. The lead could have been much greater, however, if it weren’t for the sloppy play of Toler, who committed four straight turnovers in one stretch.

The Beavers, who didn’t hit their second basket until the 14:15 mark, stayed in contention because of Aztec mistakes. With three minutes to go, OSU forward Debbie Dalluge tied the game, 27-27, on a driving layup. Lisa Ellis followed with a layup and a free throw, and the Aztecs went scoreless over the final 4:16 as Oregon State took a 30-27 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Beavers upped their advantage behind the offensive effort of freshman guard Monica Raspberry and a stingy 2-1-2 press defense.

“I don’t think they were used to our defense,” Oregon State Coach Aki Hill said. “It got us some turnovers and that helped us. Also, we got a super effort from Monica.”

Raspberry, who scored a game-high 26 points--20 in the second half--scored on a jump shot after chasing down a loose ball to give OSU its biggest lead, 48-40, with 10:00 to go.

SDSU rallied over the next eight minutes, though, and tied the game at 62-62 on Toler’s outside shot with 1:36 reamaining.

But, Oregon State stiffened and regained control behind Raspberry, who hit six straight free throws down the stretch. Toler and Dee Dee Duncan scored for the Aztecs in the final 20 seconds, but it was too late.

“We’re just making too many mistakes,” Overton said. “Earnest has been telling us things to do and we just haven’t been doing them. Tonight, it cost us.”

And, at this morning’s workout, chances are that it will cost them some more.

“I’m getting up at 5 a.m.,” Overton said.