Lee Plays No Small Part in SDSU Victory

The University of San Diego women’s basketball team felt it had an overwhelming advantage over rival San Diego State because of its superior size.

USD has three players--Chris Enger (6-feet-5), Christy English (6-3) and Lynda Jones (6-2)--that figured to dominate play Tuesday against the Aztecs at the Sports Arena.

What USD didn’t figure on was the play of SDSU’s 5-4 junior guard Crystal Lee, the smallest player on the court.

Lee scored a career-high 29 points on 11-for-17 shooting to lead SDSU to a 79-75 victory.

Lee scored the final four points of each half, the four at the end of the game coming on free throws as USD (0-1) tried fouling their way back into the game.

They fouled the wrong player. Lee, a 74% career free-throw shooter, made seven of the Aztecs’ nine free throws.

Kieishsha Garnes, a 6-3 junior transfer from New York, added 22 points, Carmelia Bloodsaw 14 and Tameka McGlawn a game-high 13 rebounds for the Aztecs, who improved to 2-1 and avenged their only loss in the series, 76-68, last year.

Enger led four Toreras in double-figure scoring with 20 points, and she added 10 rebounds, but the Aztecs did a good job of negating the Toreras’ inside game.

“Our game plan was to pack it inside because that’s the way St. Mary’s beat them (Saturday),” USD Coach Kathy Marpe said. “They didn’t even look for that shot in that game. They obviously learned something.”

Lee did, more than doubling her season output of 24 points.

“When that first shot bounced off the rim went up and in, I figured it was my night,” Lee said.

After trailing most of the first half, SDSU took the lead with 1:44 left in the first half. An 11-2 run over the final 2:16 gave the Aztecs a 46-39 lead at the intermission.

USD went on a 20-4 run at the start of the second half, taking the biggest lead for either team, 59-50, with 14:10 left. But SDSU used an 11-0 run a few minutes later to go back on top, 65-63. The Aztecs taking the lead for good with 3:22 left.