Women’s Basketball : San Diego State Has No Answer to Miller or USC in 90-77 Loss

San Diego State women’s basketball Coach Ernie Riggins is open to suggestions. He’d like to know a defense that can shut down USC’s high-scoring forward, Cheryl Miller--and the rest of the Trojans, for that matter.

Riggins tried just about everything Saturday night in the Aztecs’ Western Collegiate Athletic Assn. game against USC at San Diego.

First, he used a box-and-one, with Dee Dee Duncan guarding Miller. Next, it was a triangle-and-two, with players assigned to Yolanda Fletcher and Rhonda Windham. Then, a little zone and mostly woman-to-women in the second half.

Nothing worked.

Miller and the Trojans handled all the Aztecs had to offer and ran away with a 90-77 victory before 2,189 fans in Peterson Gym on the San Diego State campus.

Miller turned in one of her best all-around performances of the season, scoring a game-high 37 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. She also had 7 steals, 5 assists and 2 blocked shots, but she wasn’t the only reason USC scored a season-high 90 points.

Fletcher added 22 points, while Windham, who led the Trojan fast break, had 8 points and 12 assists.

The second-place and 12th-ranked Trojans improve to 7-2 in conference (17-6 overall), while third-place and 14th-ranked San Diego State drops to 8-4 and 19-7.

The Aztecs earlier had beaten the Trojans, 61-59, at the Sports Arena.

UCLA 77, Arizona St. 70--Senior forward Jackie Joyner scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Bruins (16-9, 7-4) to the WCAC win at home. Sherry Poole led Arizona State (10-14, 2-9) with 23 points.

Long Beach St. 85, Arizona 55--Cindy Brown scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the fourth-ranked 49ers (21-2, 10-1) easily won the WCAC game at Long Beach. Tannis Overturf led Arizona (6-17, 1-9) with 14 points.