Loville's Career Day Sparks Bronco Win

Saturday, January 11

Boise, Idaho

2:00 PM MT

Boise State

12-6,4-2Mountain West

San Diego State

8-10,3-3Mountain West

San Diego St.

Boise St.

Photo by: Patrick Sweeney

1/11/2020 5:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Boise State 86, San Diego State 72

Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020

Boise, Idaho - ExtraMile Arena

Box Score | Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes

BOISE, Idaho - Boise State's second unit brought an energy that changed Saturday's game against San Diego State, fueling a 29-14 Bronco edge in the second quarter and scoring a season high-matching 40 points in the 86-72 win.

The trio of guards Jade Loville and Ellie Woerner and center Rachel Bowers combined to score all 40 points on 15-for-22 shooting, including 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting in the second quarter. Loville finished the day with a career-high 21 points, with 15 coming in the second half.

"I thought Jade did an outstanding job. If she can stay within herself, she's a force," said Boise State head coach Gordy Presnell. "We put some specials in for her, and the key for her is good shot selection, and she was fantastic. She's so athletic and got confidence, the rim got bigger for her. We don't win the game without her."

With the Broncos trailing, 17-14, after an up-and-down opening frame, Bowers scored the first five points of the second, capping the opening minute with a 3-point play that gave the Broncos the lead for good at 19-17. Woerner would lead the unit with seven points in the frame.

"Today I thought our bench was just outstanding. And not just from the play, getting 40 points from them, Jade and Ellie did a fantastic job. Their emotion when they weren't playing was fantastic."

After Baylee Vanderdoes' three-point play pulled San Diego State (8-10, 3-3 MW) to within one at 23-22, Loville and Woerner snatched the momentum back, scoring Boise State's next 11 points. Loville started the stretch with a jumper to answer Vanderdoes' bonus, with Woerner following with a triple to get the Bronco lead to six at 28-22.

Woerner then followed a pair of Loville free throws with back-to-back buckets, and the Broncos were in control with a 10-point lead at 34-24 with 4:22 left in the half.

A'Shanti Coleman answered Isabela Hernandez' 3-pointer with five-straight points, including a triple of her own, to get the Bronco lead back into double digits at 41-27, as the Broncos went on to take a 43-31 lead at the break.

Boise State (12-6, 4-2 MW) continued to lean on Loville, Woerner, and Bowers to hold off multiple Aztec charges in the second half. Taylor Kalmer led San Diego State with 21 points Saturday, and helped fuel a run that brought the Aztecs as close as seven at 63-56 late in the third quarter. But Woerner would come to the rescue for the Broncos, driving for a tough layup and finishing the three-point play to get the Bronco lead back to 10 at 66-56.

Loville took over in the fourth, punishing the Aztecs with a mix of mid-range jumpers and tough points off the glass in the paint. The sophomore scored 11 of Boise State's first 13 points of the final frame, capping the stretch of 3:44 with a layup in traffic to put the Broncos up 17 at 79-62.

"I think the patience was there for me. I've been able to find my shot within the offense, and taking my time, and trusting that the ball's going to come back, and that's when I'm at my best."

The performance of the Bronco bench helped the starters find their feet, as Coleman and Mallory McGwire warmed up by the final frame. Coleman finished the day with 14 points, while McGwire had 13. Guard Braydey Hodgins also matched her career high with 10 assists.