CANCUN, MEXICO – The Providence College women's basketball team held on for a thrilling, 55-54, victory over previously unbeaten San Diego State (8-1) on the final day of the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 30).
Grace Efosa netted a pair of free throws with four-seconds left in regulation to give the Friars the victory. Providence improved to 4-5 on the season.
1ST QUARTER:
• San Diego started the game on a 6-0 run to force a Providence timeout.
• The Friars responded with an 11-0 run to claim an 11-6 lead with 1:44 on the clock.
• Providence held an 11-10 lead at the break after the Aztecs closed the quarter with four-unanswered points.
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Emily Archibald and Efosa each scored four points in the opening 10 minutes.
2ND QUARTER:
• The score was knotted at 15-15 with 6:44 remaining on the clock.
• Providence jumped out to an 11-point lead with a 13-2 run with 1:32 to play in the half (28-17).
• SDSU beat the buzzer to end the quarter, and Providence took a 28-19 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
• Archibald led all scorers at halftime with 10 points on 4-5 shooting, including a 2-3 effort from beyond the arc.
3RD QUARTER:
• The Aztecs chipped away at the Friars' lead in the third, eventually getting to within one (34-33) at the 3:26 mark.
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Brynn Farrell scored the final 10 points of the quarter for Providence and the Friars carried a 44-38 lead into the final frame.
4TH QUARTER:
• The Friars pushed their lead out to 51-40 with 7:26 to play.
• San Diego State wen on an 8-0 run to get within three (51-48) with 3:28 on the clock.
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MacKayla Scarlett scored a timely bucket to halt the Aztec's run and give Providence a 53-48 edge with 2:57 remaining.
• The Aztecs kept charging, putting together another run (6-0) to take a 54-53 lead with 23-seconds left in regulation.
• The Friars called timeout to advance the ball and Efosa ended up at the foul line after a strong take to the basket with four-seconds left.
• Efosa sank both free throws to give Providence a 55-54 lead.
• San Diego State called timeout to advance the ball, but Cali Clark's lay-up as time expired was off the mark.
NOTES / HIGHLIGHTS:
• Efosa led Providence in scoring for the eighth-straight game and finished the day with 14 points.
• She narrowly missed out on a double-double, having secured nine rebounds, and added two assists and two steals.
• Archibald recorded the first double-double of her career on 10 points and 11 rebounds. Her 11 rebounds tied her career high. She also contributed two steals and one assist.
• Farrell, who scored 10 points in the third quarter, finished the day with 12. She was 8-8 from the free throw line.
• Scarlett added eight points and three rebounds.
• Providence handed San Diego State its first loss of the season. The Aztecs entered the game 2-0 in the Cancun Challenge.
• The Friars dropped their first two games at the Cancun Challenge by single digits.
• Eight of the Friars' nine games this season have been decided by single digits.
• Providence is 3-5 in games decided by single digits.
WHAT'S NEXT:
• The Friars will face intrastate rival Rhode Island on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
- GO FRIARS! -