Aztec Women Roll Past USD, 82-47 : Perry Scores 31 as Toreras Sputter Despite Two Bursts

The University of San Diego women’s basketball team opened its game against San Diego State Tuesday night with a 6-0 streak and finished the game with a 7-0 streak.

The problem was that the visiting Toreras, playing the Aztecs in Peterson Gym, only scored 34 in between those bursts and the ztecs defeated USD, 82-47, in front of 354 spectators.

“They’re a real good team,” USD Coach Kathy Marpe said. “And they have that outside threat with (Julie) Evans that they didn’t have last year. With Evans and (center Chana) Perry on the right side, that’s tough to defend because you have to respect them both.”

Evans, a junior guard from Chula Vista, teamed with Perry for 26 of the Aztecs’ 38 first-half points, which provided a 38-20 lead.

“I don’t think it’s just Chana and I,” Evans said, as the Aztecs upped their record to 6-0 for their best start since they were 8-0 in 1984-85.

“We all contribute,” Evans said.

Perry was the 15th-ranked Aztecs leading scorer with 31 points that tied her best performance this season. Evans added 18 for the home team.

“We played in spurts,” SDSU Coach Earnest Riggins said. “I’ve seen them play better. They didn’t do a good job of distributing the ball in the first half.”

Junior guard Candid Echeverria, USD’s leading scorer with a 20-point average, was held to 1 field goal in the first half and had 6 points for the night. Paula Mascari led the Toreras with 9 points.

In the second half, USD couldn’t score until the 14-minute mark, on a free throw by Mascari. It was USD’s first point from the foul line of the game.

“Position by position, they’re 3 to 4 inches taller then us,” Marpe said. Indeed, the Aztecs starting 5 has a 4-inch height advantage over USD (6 feet 1 inch to 5-9). SDSU has 3 starters over 6 feet (Perry 6-5; Evans 6-1; and Brooke Meadows 6-4), while the Toreras have only 1 (Rochelle Lightner 6-1).

The Aztecs’ biggest lead of the game came with 1:30 to play when sophomore Melanie Usher threw one up from a crowded key for a 42-point (82-40) lead.

“Some of the kids didn’t come ready to play,” Riggins said. “But overall, I was pleased with their performance. From here on out, I just want them to play to their maximum potential.”

The Aztecs meet Pacific next on Dec. 16 at home while the Toreras meet Cal State Fullerton at Titan Gym at 7:30 p.m. Friday.