Riggins Juggles Lineup, and SDSU Women Come Away With 64-60 Win

They weren’t exactly snickering at Earnest Riggins and his lineup, but the San Diego State women’s basketball coach didn’t have any trouble spotting doubters, namely his players.

Before the opening game of the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. tournament Thursday, Riggins was tinkering with his lineup. He was forced to do so because of point guard Dee Dee Davis’ season-ending knee injury March 1.

“The players were saying, ‘What’s this guy talking about?’ ” Riggins said.

If, indeed, anyone seriously questioned his response to the situation, the Aztecs’ 64-60 victory over Fresno State in the first round at Cal State Long Beach was answer enough.

SDSU will play top-seeded Cal State Long Beach today at 4 p.m. at the Forum. Long Beach defeated Pacific, 77-50. To fill Davis’ spot, Riggins moved forward Jessica Haynes, the team’s second-leading rebounder, to point guard. She had 10 points and 12 rebounds, bringing her career rebound total to 920, seven short of the PCAA record.

“I’ve been toying with the idea all year,” Riggins said. “In the same situation a few years ago, everyone thought I was crazy when I did this with a player named Dee Dee Duncan. See what happened then?”

For those who need a refresher, Duncan was instrumental when the Aztecs reached the NCCA Midwest Regional semifinals three seasons ago after Riggins moved her from shooting guard to point guard.

“An excellent shooting guard,” Riggins said. “And she was an excellent ballhandler.”

Thursday, he was saying the same thing about Haynes. Haynes, for one, was more than willing to make the transition.

“It doesn’t matter what position I play,” Haynes said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help the team. I didn’t mind sacrificing my points to help the team win.”

With 11:33 remaining, winning appeared an unlikely prospect. San Diego State (21-9) trailed by eight points, 48-40, and if Fresno State (16-12) had converted on either of its next two possessions, a 10- or 12-point deficit might have been too difficult for the Aztecs to overcome.

“I thought if we got down by 12, it would be tough because they could control the tempo of the game,” Riggins said. “Eight isn’t that big a cushion against a team like ours. We’re fighters. The defense executed tirelessly in the last two minutes to stay in control.”

What also helped the Aztecs was going to Chana Perry, their 6-foot 5-inch junior center, more often down the stretch. Perry, who finished with 14 rebounds and a game-high 24 points, had seven points in the final 6:26.

San Diego State had two other players in double figures, Alison Smith (12) and Stephanie Lamar (10). Fresno State was led by Leesa Agent’s 14 points and Laurie Heinrichs’ 13.

“She (Perry) is a very outstanding athlete and a very mobile player, “ said Fresno State Coach Bob Spencer, whose team split its season series with San Diego State. “She’s one of the best women’s basketball players I’ve ever seen, potentially, and obviously they did what they had to do in the latter stages, which was get the ball to her.”