Jan. 2, 2015
SAN DIEGO - Fresh off a much-needed road win, the San Diego State women's basketball team returns to the friendly environs of Viejas Arena on Saturday when it entertains Fresno State, beginning at 2 p.m. PT.
A live video stream of the Aztecs' Mountain West home opener will be available on GoAztecs.com, with SDSU alumnus Chris Ello handling the play-by-play duties. In addition, Saturday's matchup will feature a free Aztec Spirit Sleeve giveaway to the first 500 fans in attendance.
SDSU (4-8, 1-0 MW) will be looking to capture back-to-back outings for the first time this season after snapping a four-game losing streak on New Year's Eve with a 74-65 come-from-behind victory at Air Force. The Aztecs were led by MW Preseason Freshman of the Year McKynzie Fort, who scored 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting, while juniors Erimma Amarikwa (14 pts) and Ahjalee Harvey (13 pts) produced double-digit scoring totals as well. On the flip side, the Bulldogs (9-3, 1-0 MW) have won five straight after defeating New Mexico by a 71-65 count in their conference opener at home on Wednesday.
The road team has emerged triumphant in the last four regular-season meetings between the two schools. Last year, SDSU won in the Central Valley on a late jumper by former Aztec Danesha Long, 70-69, before Fresno State turned the tables with a 67-63 decision at Viejas Arena. Despite the split, SDSU still maintains a 25-13 lead in 38 varsity meetings, including a 12-5 mark in San Diego.
The Aztecs and Bulldogs were former members of the Western Athletic Conference, meeting on 15 occasions between 1993 and 1998, and were once rivals in the Big West Conference as well, squaring off against one another nine times from 1987-1990.
Fresno State and SDSU have played two common opponents during their non-conference schedules. The Bulldogs came away with a wild 93-88 victory at USD on Nov. 28, before dispatching UC Riverside by a 73-61 count on Dec. 4.
The Aztecs are 6-9 all-time in MW home openers, dropping three out of their last four, including an 80-72 setback to Fresno State in 2013. SDSU's lone victory during that stretch was a 61-46 conquest of former league member TCU on Jan. 11, 2012.
Collectively, the Aztecs find themselves among the top half of the Mountain West in three-point field-goal percentage defense (2nd - (.288)), rebounding defense (2nd - (35.2/gm)) and rebounding margin (4th - (+3.4)).
Following Saturday's tilt, San Diego State will hit the road to battle New Mexico in a mid-week clash on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M.