The Seawolves (5-1), ranked No. 11 in the latest NCAA Division II poll, scored their ninth straight victory over a Division I team in their flagship tournament. UAA will get a chance to defend its four consecutive titles Wednesday at 5 p.m. AST when it faces the winner of tonight’s late game between Kent State and Washington.
The Spartans (0-5) were led by 12 points and three assists from point guard AJ Newton, but the Western Athletic Conference squad was forced into 20 turnovers, while UAA committed just 10.
Five of SJSU’s turnovers came on steals by Seawolf junior forward Tijera Mathews, who also finished with eight points (2-3 3FG) to earn Carrs/Safeway Player of the Game honors.
UAA jumped to an 8-0 lead and never trailed, although the Spartans kept things close throughout. Clinging to a 33-27 advantage with just over eight minutes remaining, Mathews made a steal at midcourt that led directly to a three-point play by Johansson. Then, just 20 seconds later, the transfer from Antelope Valley (Calif.) College used her long arms to poke the ball away from SJSU’s Liz Johnson, leading to a fastbreak layup and another three-point play by Horn.
In all, Mathews made steals on four straight possessions within 64 seconds as UAA’s lead grew back to 41-27.
Senior forward Nikki Aden finished with six points and four rebounds, Horn added a team-high six rebounds, and Johansson shot 4-for-7 to go with five rebounds and two assists.
The game broke the Shootout record for fewest combined points, erasing a 50-41 San Diego State victory over Houston in 1981 from the record books. It was also the fewest points ever allowed against a Div. I team by the Seawolves, bettering their 40-38 victory over San Diego from 1984.
UAA has now won 34 games all-time against Div. I competition (32 in the Shootout). The Seawolves have also now posted double-digit victory margins in their first-round Shootout games the last three years (72-44 over Cal State Northridge, 2008; 89-47 over Coastal Carolina, 2009).
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