Aztec Women Lose to Northeast Louisiana in Kangaroos Title Game

Tournament Most Valuable Player Lisa Ingram scored 28 points and pulled down 9 rebounds Saturday night to lead fifth-ranked Northeast Louisiana past 12th-ranked San Diego State, 89-87, in overtime in the final of the Kangaroos Shoot-Out in Peterson Gym.

The Lady Indians improved their record to 11-0. SDSU fell to 11-3.

“I have no complaints,” SDSU Coach Earnest Riggins said. “It was a tough ballgame and we played well. We just lost to a better team tonight.”

SDSU seemed in control of the game in the final moments of regulation, but Lady Indian guard E.J. Lee drove for a layup with two seconds to play to tie the score, 83-83, and force the extra session.

With 31 seconds left in the second half, Aztec forward Dee Dee Duncan made a 10-foot jumper in the lane to put SDSU ahead, 83-81. Moments later, it appeared that the Aztecs had the game wrapped up, when Northeast’s Jocelyn Hill missed a short jumper with 12 seconds left and SDSU’s Penny Toler was fouled after grabbing the rebound.

However, the Aztec freshman missed the front end of a one-and-one, setting the stage for Lee’s game-tying drive.

“We had thought the referee called a two-shot foul,” Riggins said. “If we had known it was a one-and-one, we’d have pressured (Lee) and not allowed her to penetrate.

“He gave the signal for a two-shot foul, but he must have changed it at the table. When Penny missed the first one, we weren’t ready.”

In overtime, Lee put Northeast Louisiana head to stay with a jumper in the lane. Ingram then scored on a rebound basket to make it 87-83 with 2:39 remaining.

SDSU cut the deficit to two and had a chance to tie the game, but Toler misfired on a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer.

Chances are, the contest may never had reached an extra session had SDSU’s All-American forward Tina Hutchinson not been forced out of the contest midway through the first half.

Hutchinson scored six points early in the game, but twisted her previously injured left knee with 9:10 to go in the first half and sat out until halftime.

Hutchinson returned in the second half, but was only able to play sparingly and finished with 12 points.

With Hutchinson hurting, the Aztecs received a boost from forward Shelda Arceneaux, who helped SDSU rally from a four-point halftime deficit with 16 second-half points.

Center Toni Wallace was the Aztecs’ leading scorer with 20 points.

In the first half, Northeast Louisiana tried to take control of the contest with its powerful inside game.

Chana Perry, who wound up with 11 points and 9 rebounds before the break, scored on a three-point play and a layin and Hill scored off a rebound to help the Lady Indians to a 9-4 advantage two minutes into the game.

Hutchinson helped SDSU rally with three quick baskets.

After her departure, however, the Aztecs lagged again underneath. With Wallace sitting on the bench because of two fouls, Northeast Louisiana raised its advantage to 26-20 on a layin by Perry.

SDSU again rallied, though, and tied the contest on a pair of baskets by Toler and a corner jumper by Duncan.

Lee helped Northeast Louisiana take control again with three outside shots that made it 34-29 with 4:37 left.

Wallace then returned the court and scored eight straight points for SDSU and helped the Aztes pull to within 42-38 at the half.