Dec. 7, 2008

Box Score

(San Luis Obispo, Calif.) - Freshman guard Rheina Ale led four members of the USF women's basketball team in double figures but it was a lay-up at the buzzer by Cal Poly's Brittany Asplund that propelled the Mustangs to an 85-83 victory over the Dons Sunday in San Luis Obispo. San Francisco's (2-6) Ale led all scorers with 23 points against the Mustangs (5-3).

After opening the first half on a 9-2 run, the Mustangs controlled the majority of the first half, never relinquishing their lead. In the opening stanza, USF shot at a .517 clip, including going 8-for-11 from three-point territory. In the first half, Ale, Necolia Simmons and Shay Rollins all posted double-digit scoring. Ale led the way with 14, while Rollins and Simmons posted 11 and 10, respectively.

Following a 47-43 deficit at half, San Francisco began to chip away at Cal Poly's lead right out of the gate, outscoring the Mustangs 11-7 in the opening five minutes of the second half. The Dons continued to rally, taking their first lead of the contest at 10:59 thanks to a jumper by Ale. USF extended their lead to as many as six points before Cal Poly went on an 8-0 run over the final three minutes. Down by two, Simmons was fouled and hit two free throws to knot the score 83-83 with six second remaining before Asplund scored the winning lay-up as the buzzer sounded.

Ale finished the contest with a career-high 23 points, going 8-for-12 from the field with four three pointers. The starter also added five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.

Simmons, Rollins and Danesha Wright, all starters for the Dons, each posted 10 or more points for USF. Simmons posted 22 with a game-high nine boards, while Rollins tallied 20, including hitting six shots from beyond the arc. Wright posted 11 points for San Francisco, while also pulling down a board and dishing out three assists.

Besides the four starters for USF, Nnenna Okereke and Vania Singleterry were the only other members of the Dons roster to post points. Singleterry posted five points, while Okereke added two.

Five Mustangs scored in double-digits for Cal Poly, highlighted by 16 points by Lisa McBride.

The Dons return to action Wednesday in the final appearance on the Hilltop before the holidays as the welcome Cal State Fullerton to War Memorial Gym. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.