The SF State women’s basketball team had opportunities to shut the door against the Seattle University Redbirds, but couldn’t cash in and lost 71-64.

The Gators executed their offense in the first half, shooting 37.5 percent from the field to score 34 points and took the lead 34-30 at the half. But, the Gators shot 26.7 percent in the second half, making eight of 30 two-point shots, allowing the Redbirds to chip away at the Gators’ lead that was at its largest at 11.

“We have to learn how to close games out,” Joaquin Wallace, the women’s basketball coach, said. “We had the opportunity to close the game out, and we just didn’t do it.”

Freshmen forward Zalisha Oliver made a jump shot with 6:43 to go giving the Gators a 56-51 lead, but the Gators only made two more two-pointers the rest of the game.

The team shoots entirely too much in practice not to make open shots, Wallace said.

“When number 33 was open she hit her shots, when we were open we didn’t,” Wallace said.

The Redbirds went four of 11 in the second half from the three-point line, and senior guard Ashley Payne made all four, scoring 14 points in the second half.

Three of Payne’s three-point shots came in the last seven minutes of the game, and the biggest came with 1:21 left when she gave the Redbirds the lead for good, 64-61.

Sophomore Krystle Mays and senior Chloe Grimm played well for the Gators almost carrying the team to victory.

Mays said her goal before the game was to hit 20 points and 10 rebounds, and she finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and one block.

Mays said she had a bad game the last time the Gators met the Redbirds Nov. 24, which gave her extra motivation. She came out aggressive and attacked the defense.

Grimm had 20 points, seven rebounds to go along with two steals and one block.

“Krystle and Chloe combined for 44 points, you can’t beat that, you can’t ask for any more from those players,” Wallace said. “Other players have to step-up and play around them.”

Oliver was the only other Gator to finish in double figures with 10 points.

“We got beat tonight by a better team, but they were better because they were more experienced,” Wallace said.

Grimm and Mays were the only veterans for the Gators who played extensive minutes, and have played in Wallace’s system for at least a year.

Still, Wallace said the team played hard, ran the offense extremely well and will be able to improve its shooting.

“Playing in close games will be our next hurdle,” Wallace said.