By Felix Oliveros— Staff Writer
There is a reason why San Jose State women’s basketball team has won five of its first eight games.
Ayzhiana Basallo is balling — like top-5-scorer-in-the-nation balling. It’s not what she’s doing. It’s how.
At 23.3 points and 6.4 assists, the 5-foot-5 guard has taken the entire conference by storm.
But she hasn’t done it alone.
Tyra Whitehead is Basallo’s other half. The thunder to her lightning.
The center has been a big-time contributor with 16.4 points and 8.9 rebounds a game and tops the team in steals at three per contest.
But can the Spartans stay afloat while depending on their two most reliable bucket-getters?
While Basallo and Whitehead have done the heavy lifting, the bench has been awfully quiet and struggles while the two are off the hardwood.
In the last three contests, the bench has put up 27 points in their 160 combined minutes played. They’ve shot just 9-43 from the field during that span.
Can the Spartans sustain their success at the hands of two players: yes, they can.
As long as Basallo and Whitehead stay healthy, this team has the potential to contend in the Mountain West.
Now with such a top-heavy lineup, teams will adjust more and more.
These two players have shown they have exceptional basketball IQs.
Basallo has looked like a true point guard. She has a nice handle and knows how to dish the jball.
Whitehead almost averages a double-double and can contribute without scoring, getting her hands dirty on the boards, but also slapping steals and blocks on defense.
When Basallo and Whitehead don’t have the rock in their hands, who shoots it?
Senior Fieme’a Hafoka, sophomore Raziya Potter and juniors Megan Anderson and Danae Marquez are all averaging over 8 points per contest and are shooting about 40 percent from the field.
Anderson and Marquez are lights out from three at a combined clip of roughly 42 percent and are valuable weapons for Basallo and Whitehead to kick out to.
This team plays defense. They’re forcing their opponents to cough up the ball 18 times a game and are averaging 10 steals a game. That is enough to keep them in any game.
So yes, this team can sustain and can make a name for themselves. The key elements are there. Two lethal threats: one directing traffic, one down low.
A supporting cast that consists of two consistent shooters, and a squad that plays defense. Some more from the bench, and a decrease in turnovers and this team will be ready for the big stage.
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