SAN JOSE, California – With the clock at 0.6 seconds and Utah State trailing 61-60, senior guard Kaylin Randhawa stepped up to the free throw line for two shots.
She knocked down the first one, but missed the second.
But the game wasn't over.
Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne grabbed the rebound and immediately shot it.
The bucket was good.
Utah State women's basketball (7-12, 2-7 MW) won it at the buzzer, 63-61, to defeat San José State (3-16, 0-8 MW) in San Jose, California, on Thursday night.
"I didn't think about anything," Hawthorne said. "I just knew we didn't have that much time left on the clock. I just got the rebound and put it up."
SJSU led for the majority of the first quarter before a 9-0 Aggie run gave USU the 23-21 edge with 26 seconds left to play in the stanza. The Spartans then tied it up at 23-23 at the buzzer.
The Aggies were dominant in the second quarter, outscoring San José State, 18-9, in the period to lead 41-32 at halftime.
Both teams struggled to score in the third as USU led by three, 47-44, at the end of the period. SJSU eventually took a four-point lead, 61-57, with 21 second left to play in the fourth.
Sophomore guard
Kinley Falslev banked in a 3 from well behind the arc to make it a one-point game at 61-60 with 13 seconds remaining. After a Spartan turnover, Randhawa drove and got knotted up for a jump ball, but the possession remained with the Aggies.
Randhawa caught the inbound ball, drove to the hoop and drew the foul. She knocked down the first and missed the second, but Hawthorne was there for the clean up and put it back for the 63-61 Aggie victory.
"While they were reviewing it, I got down on one knee and started praying," head coach
Kayla Ard said. "I really wanted this win for our girls. It went our way, so I'm very grateful for that."
Junior guard/forward
Adryana Quezada led the Aggies with 20 points, while senior guard/forward
E'Lease Stafford registered her third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 boards. Senior guard
Emmie Harris registered her third-straight game with eight or more assists after dishing out nine dimes in San Jose.
Utah State finished the night shooting 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from behind the arc and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) at the free throw line. San José State shot 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the floor, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from behind the 3-point line and 62.5 percent (10-of-16) at the free throw line.
"It was not pretty," Ard said. "We didn't play well in the second half, but we're very grateful to have won two games in a row. This is a tough conference, so any win is huge for us. We're just really excited to have a win."
USU continues its California trip on Saturday, Jan. 29, as the Aggies take on Fresno State (7-11, 3-4 MW) in Fresno at 3 p.m. (MT).
Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.
– USU –