LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Lamar University women's basketball team's rally fell short to San Diego State, 60-54, in LU's first contest of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev. on Friday evening.

"We have to give San Diego State credit," said head coach Aqua Franklin. "They attacked us and waited patiently on offense. We did not do a good job with our on-ball defense and fouled too much. We have another opportunity tomorrow. We will watch film and get better from it."

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair that saw the end of the frame with a San Diego State lead, 15-14, over the Cards. Senior Jadyn Pimentel tallied eight first-quarter points on 80 percent shooting in the frame. The Cardinals tied the game up twice in the first quarter, but the Aztecs held onto the first break lead behind Sophia Ramos, who put up five first-quarter points on 50 percent shooting.

The second quarter proved to be of similarity to the first in a back and forth affair. Lamar went on to take their first lead of the contest, 18-17, on a layup from freshman M'Kayla Malone at the 8:29 mark in the second. San Diego State went on to make back-to-back three to make the game 23-18 with 7:12 left to go in the half. Malone of LU pulled the Cards back to within one after making back-to-back jumpers. The Aztecs took the lead into the halftime break, 31-28, behind 10 first half-points from Sophia
Ramos, and tallied five rebounds and three assists.

Coming out of the break, the Aztecs picked up right where they left off and extended their lead to 33-28 before freshman Bebe Galloway of the Cardinals made a second-chance layup to end the Aztecs scoring run. San Diego State pushed its lead to nine at the 5:56 mark of the third after Ramos and Mercedes Staples made back-to-back pull up jumpers. Junior Angel Hastings made her first basket of the night at the 5:39 mark of the third to pull the Cards to within six.

The Aztecs' Alexandria Cain committed a shooting foul that sent redshirt junior Micaela Wilson to the line. Wilson missed the first but nailed the second to bring the Cards to within five. SDSU's Kiara Edwards committed the Aztecs' second shooting foul within minutes. This time freshman M'Kayla Malone went to the line and nailed both free throws. Crucial turnovers and fouls committed by the Aztecs allowed the Cardinals to tie up the contest at 42-42 going into the final period of play.

The fourth quarter showed to be all Aztecs. The Cardinals went onto get the first points of the fourth quarter, but the Aztecs' defense held the Cards to scoring drought of 7:20 when redshirt junior Micaela Wilson got the Cards back on the board. The Cards pulled back within six when Hastings made a pull-up jumper to make it 55-49. With less than a minute left, Gibbs was able to steal the ball back and Hastings was found open to pull the Cards within five points of the lead. Lamar's late rally was not enough as the Aztecs took the victory over the Cards, 60-54.

Junior Anyssia Gibbs finished with her first Cardinal double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. This marks just her second career appearance at Lamar. Freshman M'Kayla Malone also finished with 13 points on the night and tacked on two rebounds and a steal as well. Senior Jadyn Pimentel added nine points for the Cards with three rebounds.

UP NEXT: The Cardinals will turn to their second contest of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout on Nov. 28 against Fresno State. The game will mark the first meeting between the programs.