Spartans fall to Aztecs at San Diego Surf 'N Slam Classic

Nneka Awuruonye (Photo by Dano Keeney)

Final	1	2	T
UNCG (2-9)	11	18	29
San Diego St. (7-4)	26	31	57
San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)

UNCG	San Diego St.
Pts: Nneka Awuruonye - 8	Pts: Kiyana Stamps - 16
Reb: Janae' Stevenson - 8	Reb: Chelsea Hopkins - 10
Ast: Sidnei Harmon - 2	Ast: Chelsea Hopkins - 9

Team Statistics	UNCG	San Diego St.
Field Goal %	24.5% (12-49 )	36.2% (21-58 )
Rebounds	34	45
Assists	7	15
Turnovers	20	12
Pts off Turnovers	7	17
2nd Chance Pts	10	9
Pts in the Paint	12	24
Fastbreak Pts	2	6
Bench Pts	21	14

full stats

For video of UNCG coach Wendy Palmer's postgame comments, click here.

SAN DIEGO – UNCG scored fewer than 30 points for just the third time in school history and San Diego State's Kiyana Stamps scored 13 second-half points to lead the Aztecs past the Spartans, 57-29, at the San Diego Surf 'N Slam Classic at Viejas Arena on Wednesday. Nneka Awuruonye led UNCG with eight points, all in the second half.

The Spartans (2-9) failed to put anyone in double figures for the first time since the season-opening contest against Liberty on Nov. 11. Janae' Stevenson finished with six points and a season-high eight rebounds.

"We have to come out every game ready to play," UNCG coach Wendy Palmer said. "We did not show up today ready to compete."

Stamps had a game-high 16 points for the Aztecs (7-4), one shy of her career high, while Chelsea Hopkins just missed an unconventional double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds and nine assists, both game highs.

Courtney Clements had 13 points and Malia Nahinu finished with 11 for SDSU. Nahinu had a productive all-around game with nine rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals.

UNCG struggled offensively from the get-go, needing nearly four minutes before a Stevenson jumper got the Spartans on the board. UNCG was down 8-2 at the point and never got closer than that the rest of the way.

SDSU answered Stevenson's basket with a 17-5 run to push its lead to 25-7 with 3:24 to go in the first half, getting six points each from Nahinu and Melissa Sweats in the spurt.

Stevenson and Jarae Savage had late buckets in the half to pull UNCG within 26-11 at halftime. The 11 first-half points matched the school record for fewest in a half, set in a 67-39 loss to West Virginia on Nov. 19, 2004.

The Aztecs continued to pull away in the second frame, leading by as many as 30 in the contest.

Stamps came out of the locker room on fire, scoring 13 of the Aztecs' first 20 points in the second half. Clements then took over, hitting three straight 3-pointers to make it a 55-27 game with just 3:43 to go.

Awuruonye answered Clements' first 3 with a layup, followed by UNCG freshman April Carson hitting a 3 of her own. After Clements' second triple, Awuruonye added a jumper, but Clements again had an answer with her third 3-pointer.

"(Awuruonye) was a spark," Palmer said. "She came in and played really hard. That's something I have to get from Nneka in practice, so moving forward to the game, I know that's going to show up and be there."

SDSU out-rebounded UNCG 45-34 on the afternoon. The Aztecs were also 8-for-15 from the free throw line, while UNCG took just four free throws. Jazz Weaver had the honors each time, going 3-for-4.

Weaver and Carson finished with five points each.

A Stevenson layup with 1:22 left prevented UNCG from matching the school record for fewest points in a game, set in a 62-27 setback at Wake Forest on Nov. 17, 2008.

UNCG returns to action Thursday when it faces Penn to finish its stay at the San Diego Surf 'N Slam Classic. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Pacific time (5 p.m. Eastern) at Viejas Arena.

AGATE
SAN DIEGO STATE 57, UNCG 29

UNCG (2-9)
Nneka Awuruonye 4-6 0-0 8; Janae' Stevenson 3-5 0-0 6; Jazz Weaver 1-3 3-4 5; April Carson 2-8 0-0 5; Sarah Folwell 1-5 0-0 3; Jarae Savage 1-8 0-0 2; Natalie Headley 0-5 0-0 0; Sidnei Harmon 0-5 0-0 0; Dayshaun Richbow 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 12-49 3-4 29.

SAN DIEGO STATE (7-4)
Kiyana Stamps 4-11 4-6 16; Courtney Clements 5-13 0-0 13; Malia Nahinu 5-8 1-2 11; Melissa Sweat 3-5 1-3 7; Chelsea Hopkins 1-3 0-0 2; Sajoyia Griffin 1-3 0-0 2; Khristina Hunter 1-1 0-0 2; Erimma Amarikwa 1-2 0-0 2; Chairese Culberson 0-5 1-2 1; Kalena Tutt 0-1 1-2 1; Jasmine Porter 0-3 0-0 0; Gabrielle Clark 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-58 8-15 57.

UNCG..........................   11   18  -   29
San Diego State...............   26   31  -   57

3-point goals--UNCG 2-11 (April Carson 1-2; Sarah Folwell 1-5; Jazz Weaver 0-1; Jarae Savage 0-1; Natalie Headley 0-1; Dayshaun Richbow 0-1), San Diego State 7-18 (Kiyana Stamps 4-7; Courtney Clements 3-8; Chelsea Hopkins 0-1; Jasmine Porter 0-1; Gabrielle Clark 0-1). Fouled out--UNCG-None, San Diego State-None. Rebounds--UNCG 34 (Janae' Stevenson 8), San Diego State 45 (Chelsea Hopkins 10). Assists--UNCG 7 (Sidnei Harmon 2), San Diego State 15 (Chelsea Hopkins 9). Total fouls--UNCG 11, San Diego State 9. Technical fouls--UNCG-None, San Diego State-None. A-450

- UNCG -