By Sofia Wright—Content Editor
“We want to kill them,” said sophomore guard Ayzhiana Basallo. “They’re on top and we want to get em’.”
Basallo not only leads her team, but is No. 8 in the nation in points per game with 20.7. She ranks third in the country among free throw shooters, sitting third in Division I shooting at a 92.4 percent clip. Her 121 makes has her at No. 9 on the program’s list for made free throws in a single season.
The sophomore is one of just two players nationally averaging over 20 points and 4.5 assists per game.
Yet, standing atop the Mountain West, with a perfect 13-0 conference record, is Fresno State. The rival Bulldogs will host the San Jose State women’s basketball team Wednesday.
The last meeting between the two teams saw an overtime Fresno State win, 85-76 in San Jose. That was the same game junior forward Tyra Whitehead, a double-double machine, went down with an ankle injury less than a minute into the extra frame.
The Spartans (15-8, 9-3 MW) were picked 11th, dead last, in the preseason poll, but have held their own and sit in second.
SJSU has dropped it’s last two games, losing on the road to Wyoming and to Nevada at home. This is the program’s first season with more than five road victories since winning eight in the 2004-05 season.
This matchup in Fresno is the Bulldogs’ (20-4, 13-0 MW) 25th game of the season. They have not lost at home since playing BYU on Nov. 21, which ended 71-65.
“You know, for a team that was picked to finish last we’re still going to grind it out and compete,” said head coach Jaime Craighead. “Our goal is to stay in that top-half and get a bye in the conference tournament, and get as many wins to finish out the season as we can.”
The game is a homecoming for junior guards Megan Anderson and Danae Marquez. The juniors are closing in on career milestones. Anderson only needs three more 3-pointers to move up to No. 5 on SJSU’s all-time list, while Marquez needs six to crack the top-10.
Craighead is also due for a career milestone in coaching. She is two wins away from win No. 125 as SJSU’s head coach.
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