SDSU holds off late Wisconsin charge to take opening game of Cancun Challenge

Cancun, MX - The San Diego State Aztecs remained unbeat (7-0) after knocking off the Wisconsin Badgers (5-2) in their opening game of the Cancun Challenge, 73-67. Freshman guard Nat Martinez led the Aztecs with 22 points while Veronica Sheffey added 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and Jazlen Green scored 13 points.

After a back and forth first half saw the Aztecs take a two point lead into halftime, 35-33, SDSU came out on fire in the third quarter. San Diego State outscored Wisconsin 23-13 in the third quarter on 9-of-15 shooting to take a 58-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, though, Wisconsin seized momentum with a barrage of dominant interior play on both ends of the court. Led by junior forward Serah Williams, who finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks, the Badgers erased the deficit with a 17-0 run to open the quarter.

Trailing by five and being held scoreless for over seven minutes of game action, San Diego State found a way to calm itself with its first basket of the quarter with 3:17 left in the game followed by a personal 8-0 run from Martinez, including back-to-back 3-pointers from the same corner to regain the lead.

San Diego State will look to stay undefeated when it takes on VCU tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. ET, while Wisconsin will look to get back to its winning ways against Providence at 11 a.m. ET.

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