Dec. 19, 2007
Complete Box Score in PDF Format
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - A depleted Navy women's basketball team that suited up only four healthy players lost a 91-33 decision to San Diego State Tuesday night at Cox Arena in San Diego.
Members of the Navy travel party contracted food poisoning at its team meal Monday evening. Eight of the 12 players, three of the team's coaches, one student manager and the program's athletic trainer (in all, 14 of the 20-member travel group who ate at the restaurant) all began showing symptoms of the violent illness late Monday night and lasting throughout the overnight hours and all day Tuesday.
A total of five players were able to take part in the team's shootaround held Tuesday at 12 Noon.
Ten players managed to suit up for the game Tuesday night, with two others - including leading scorer Cassie Consedine - left behind at the hotel. Navy's starting lineup consisted of Amanda Taylor, Kelly Altschul, Ali Currier, Angela Myers and Kristin Bowen. Myers has started every game this year and Altschul had made six prior starts, while Taylor had played in four games this year, Bowen in two games and Currier in one game. Of the quintet, Currier, Bowen and Altschul were among the handful of players who did not become sick.
The game was tied at 2-2 following a field goal from Navy's Taylor one minute into the game, but the Aztecs scored the next 20 points to break open the game and went into halftime holding a 45-14 lead.
San Diego State, who continued to employ a full-court press and trap while holding a 50-point lead (75-25) with 10 minutes left in the game and, after calling off the pressure, still looked to run with ball on offense in an attempt to score on a fast break or with a three-point attempt, forced Navy into 30 turnovers while committing 10 turnovers of its own.
The Aztecs scored 47 points following those Navy turnovers, while conversely the Mids scored six points after SDSU turnovers. San Diego State also would tally 34 fast break points to Navy's zero.
"I want to say how proud I am of this team for the effort and heart they displayed tonight," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "They could have easily layed down and given up at the start of the game or at any point during the game. Almost no one had slept or eaten all day. We had girls leave the bench during the game because they were sick. It means a lot to me to see how hard they competed. They played their hearts out throughout the 40 minutes, and everyone who played just wanted to do and play more. They did themselves, their teammates and the Naval Academy proud with their effort and determination."
Navy will have a little more than one week to recover as the Mids will next play Dec. 29 when the Mids play host to Air Force.
