Perkins’ Three-Point Success Leads USD Past Santa Clara

The University of San Diego women rallied from a 29-27 halftime deficit to win their first West Coast Conference game of the season, 80-63 at Santa Clara.

Cathy Perkins was six of six, including five of five on three-pointers in her first attempts from that range since 1987, for 17 points, and Candida Echeverria added 20 points for USD (11-7, 1-4). Julie Lienert led Santa Clara (5-12, 1-4) with 18 points on six-of-24 shooting.

Santa Clara shot just 27%. USD shot 49%, including nine of 13 from three-point range.

FOOTBALL

San Diego State has signed T.C. Wright, an All-American running back from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, and Damon Pieri, a defensive back from Phoenix College, to national letters of intent.

Wright, 5-feet-9, 185 pounds, set a school record with 2,124 all-purpose yards as a sophomore last season and holds the school record with 3,451 career all-purpose yards.

“I’ve been here eight years and have had some good kids go to a variety of programs, and T.C. is the best since I’ve been here,” Mesa Coach Jim Ewan said. “I can’t believe Arizona State let him get away, to be honest. He’s extremely quick.”

Ron Slack, who led the Aztecs with 914 yards last season, has completed his eligibility, so Wright will battle juniors Curtis Butts and Tommy Booker and sophomore Larry Maxey, who is expected to move from safety to running back.

Pieri, 6-1, 185, will finish his freshman year at Phoenix College before transferring to SDSU. He played both cornerback and safety last season.

“He is very tenacious,” Phoenix College Coach Pat Lavin said. “He is an extremely hard-hitter. I think what the San Diego coaches saw reminded them of (John) Wesselman (SDSU’s all-Western Athletic Conference defensive back and SDSU’s most valuable player last season).”