Feb. 3, 2015
SAN DIEGO - Fresh off an uplifting road victory, the San Diego State women's basketball team returns to Montezuma Mesa to open a two-game homestand, starting Wednesday when it squares off against Nevada at Viejas Arena. Game time is set for 6 p.m. PT.
A live video stream of the Aztecs-Wolf Pack clash will be available on GoAztecs.com, with SDSU alumnus Chris Ello handling the play-by-play handling the play-by-play responsibilities. In addition, Wednesday's matchup will feature a free Aztec Spirit Sleeve giveaway to the first 500 fans in attendance.
SDSU (7-13, 4-5 MW) will be looking to collect back-to-back wins for the first time this season after recording a 70-59 triumph at Utah State last Saturday. The Aztecs sank 20 of 26 free-throw attempts and outscored the Aggies 22-10 on points off turnovers to fuel their victory. Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack (6-13, 2-6 MW) have dropped six straight after falling at home to Wyoming by a 61-45 count on Jan. 31.
SDSU has cranked up the defense in its last four outings, allowing just 53 points per game while limiting the opposition to a .360 field-goal percentage, including a .255 clip on three-pointers. During that stretch, the Aztecs have also maintained a plus-6.2 advantage on offensive rebounds, outscoring foes 59-41 on second-chance points.
SDSU holds a slim 6-5 lead in the all-time series against Nevada, including a 3-1 mark in San Diego. However, the Wolf Pack captured both encounters last year, posting an 84-65 triumph in Reno during the regular season before holding on for a 53-48 victory in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Championship. The two teams last met in Viejas Arena on Jan. 23, 2013, when the Scarlet and Black pulled away for a 69-57 win. In that contest, former Aztec Chelsea Hopkins registered the first of her four triple-doubles that season with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The two sides have faced one common opponent in UC Santa Barbara during their respective non-conference schedules. Nevada prevailed over the Gauchos by a 71-58 margin in its season opener on Nov. 14, while SDSU emerged with a 64-58 victory on Dec. 7.
Collectively, the Aztecs find themselves in the top half of the MW in three-point field goal percentage defense (2nd - (.279)), which ranks 40th in the nation, rebounding defense (2nd - 35.4/gm) and rebounding margin (3rd - (+3.4)). Individually, junior Erimma Amarikwa occupies the seventh spot for all games in rebounding (6.9/gm) and is eighth in free-throw percentage (.716). She also enters the week averaging 12.9 points per contest in league play, which ranks 11th.
Following Wednesday's engagement, San Diego State will play host to Boise State on Saturday, Feb. 7, beginning at 2 p.m. PT, to highlight National Girls and Women in Sports Day.