San Diego State Women Open Big Lead and Take Northridge in Stride

Jessica Haynes scored 11 of her 17 points in the first half Tuesday night as the San Diego State women’s basketball team took a 42-14 halftime lead and went on to defeat Cal State Northridge, 81-48, at Peterson Gym.

The Aztecs (4-2) opened with a 12-0 lead. SDSU made 6 of 10 free throws in the first half and 11 of 12 in the second half. Chana Perry led SDSU with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Vicki Mallett led Northridge (2-3) with 15 points.

Cal State Fullerton’s full-court press forced 27 turnovers as the Titans defeated the University of San Diego, 67-55, in a nonconference game at the USD Sports Center.

Junior center Amy Torczon paced Fullerton (3-2) with 26 points. USD (1-4) was led by Jane Gilpin’s 24 points.

USD trailed by only five points at the half, but Fullerton pulled away in the second half.

Laura Mars had 20 points and 6 rebounds to lead host Point Loma Nazarene College to a 76-57 victory over Whittier College. Ann Duffy added 17 points, 6 assists and 6 steals for Point Loma (4-1), an NAIA school. Whittier (2-3), which plays in the NCAA Division III, trailed, 42-25, at halftime and never came within 10 points in the second half.

SOCCER

Chuck Clegg, San Diego State coach, has been selected the coach of the West team for the 16th annual Soccer Bowl Jan. 23 in Santa Ana. It will be the first time the game, which matches top senior players from the East and the West, has been played in California. The teams will be announced later this month. Clegg led the Aztecs to the championship game of the NCAA tournament, in which they lost Sunday to host Clemson, 2-0.

CROSS-COUNTRY

San Pasqual High School’s Francis O’Neill, who finished ninth at last week’s Western Regional meet at Fresno, will run in the Kinney National Cross-Country meet Saturday at Balboa Park’s Morley Field. O’Neill was the alternate but was given an invitation Tuesday when top qualifier Ian Alsen of Granda Hills High decided to run in the Los Angeles City championships on Saturday instead.

“I’m still kind of in shock that I made it,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill, a junior, said he was surprised to run so well at the regionals.

After placing third in the San Diego Section meet, O’Neill finished eighth at the state meet in Fresno two weeks ago. The Western region involves runners from nine states, so O’Neill said he did not expect to qualify.

After two miles, O’Neill was 27th, but he finished in 15 minutes 25 seconds, five seconds faster than his previous best for 3.1 miles.

“I just went for it,” O’Neill said. “I think everyone else went out too fast and got tired out.”