It was the tale of two halves for the SF State women’s basketball team in their 86-54 loss to the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners Dec. 1.

In the first half, the Gators shot 17.1 percent from the field, and made six points during the final 13 minutes and 22 seconds of the first half. The Roadrunners blew the game open, taking a 48-16 lead at halftime.

“We have a pattern where we start off well and then go through a scoring drought, and that puts a lot of pressure on our defense end-to-end,” SF State head coach Joaquin Wallace said. “During those stretches we have to play perfect defense and it’s virtually impossible.”

Wallace compared the defensive situation of the Gators to the Oakland Raiders. The defense is good, but it eventually breaks down because the offense isn’t up to par.

Wallace knew the Gators would struggle offensively early in the season because of the number of freshmen playing for the team, who have to allow their offensive games to come to them.

“Defensively, I think we can match-up with anybody. Offensively we’re rushing the easy things like lay-ups and put backs,” coach Wallace said. “We know we can defend, we have to make the easy baskets.”

Wallace said the second half was more of an indicator of the Gators' ability, scoring 38 points, the most scored in any half all season. Wallace said only seven Gator turnovers and 18 created turnovers in the half were also positives.

Three freshmen played strong defense for the Gators: Jessica Hout-Freeman with six steals, Zalisha Oliver with four and Aumornai Edinburgh with three blocks.

“That’s my part of the game, I love defense, it brings the offense together and will win the game,” Hout-Freeman said. “If you work hard on defense, offense will come.”

Sophomore forward Krystle Mays said the team’s intensity on defense the second half was better, and that made the team better on offense. The Gators scored 18 points off turnovers and shot 37.5 percent from the field in the second half.

Mays was consistent throughout the game, scoring 10 points in the first half and 11 in the second to lead the Gators, along with eight rebounds and four steals.

Mays also led the conference in steals at 3.25 per game after four games this season.

Coach Wallace said senior center Chloe Grimm, back after four games because of injury, was able to calm the offense down in the second half when the team ran its triangle offense exclusively, by trying to feed the ball into post whenever possible.

Grimm found a rhythm and got her confidence up after making four of seven shots in the second half to finish with eight points.

“We have to be patient and allow the freshmen to buy into what we’re doing, and then go out there and play at a high level,” coach Wallace said. “Krystle is playing real good, she had 17 and 10 last game, she had 21 tonight, and she’s only a sophomore. The future is bright.”