Aztecs Advance After Two Overtimes

Chana Perry scored 32 points and had 19 rebounds to lead San Diego State to a 99-92 double-overtime victory over Radford (Va.) University Thursday in a first-round game of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

The top-seeded Aztecs (24-8) will meet Murray (Ky.) State (21-8) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. today. Murray State defeated Richmond, 84-73, Thursday.

After taking a 62-46 lead with about seven minutes left, the Aztecs allowed Radford an 18-2 run that tied the score, 64-64, with about three minutes to play.

“We made some substitutions,” Aztec Coach Earnest Riggins said. “They made a couple three-pointers on us and made some key steals, and that brought them back into the ballgame.”

Radford forced the first overtime on a four-point play with 37 seconds left when Patrinda Toney hit a three-pointer at the same time teammate Carole Smith was fouled by Monica Glass. Smith made the front end of the one-and-one to tie it at 73-73.

Radford forced the second overtime when Charmayne Sugars scored with 31 seconds left.

The Aztecs didn’t regain momentum until the second overtime, when Stephanie Lamar made her first appearance.

“Her sinuses were giving her trouble,” Riggins said. “But I figured here’s a senior in possibly her last game, let’s see what she can do.”

Lamar made two steals and went the length of the court with both to push the Aztecs to a 93-89 lead. Two free throws by Perry and two by Lamar helped nail down the victory. Lamar finished with six points.

“We got the kind of five minutes out of her we thought we’d get,” Riggins said.