Dec. 20, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule with a game at Cal State Fullerton and a home contest against Biola. SDSU faces the Titans on Thurs., Dec. 22 for a 5 p.m. game and welcomes the Eagles to Viejas Arena on Weds., Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
The Cal State Fullerton game features live audio on GoAztecs.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play action and a live stream on FullertonTitans.com, while Ello will call the play-by-play for live video on the Mountain West Network, hosted by GoAztecs.com.
The fourth Big West foe San Diego State will face this season, Cal State Fullerton is currently mired in a four-game losing streak, losing by an average of 12.8 points to Loyola Marymount, Eastern Washington, Portland State and Pepperdine. A bright spot for the Titans is the play of Iman Lathan. The junior tops the Big West with 18.4 points per game, reaching the 20-point mark in seven of Cal State Fullerton's 10 games this year. Daeja Smith is the team's top defensive player, sitting third in the league with 7.7 rebounds per game. Her .529 field goal percentage is also good enough for third in the Big West. Daron Park is in his fourth season at the helm of Cal State Fullerton's program.
Biola has experienced success as the season has progressed, topping its four most recent opponents en route to a 9-3 mark. Offensively, the team is led by junior DeMoria White, who sits second in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) with 19.2 points per game (her 230 total points are the most in the league). She has led the team in scoring in eight of its 12 games this year. Senior Joclyn Kirton's defensive play has been a large part of the Eagles' early success, as her 8.1 rebounds per game put her seventh in the league. Classmate Annie Park is the team's top play maker, averaging 4.8 assists per game for third in the GSAC. San Diego State graduate Alan Nakamura is in his second season as Biola's head coach.
In its most recent outing, against UC Santa Barbara, SDSU used one of its most complete performances of the year to beat the Gauchos, generating its highest point total of the year in the 84-70 victory. Five Aztecs recorded double-digit points, led by juniors Lexy Thorderson and Geena Gomez each netting 17 points. Thorderson's total was a career-high, while Gomez matched her own career high, previously earned against Central Connecticut earlier this season. SDSU also made 10 3-pointers, its most since a 69-46 win over UC Santa Barbara on March 20, 2013 in the WNIT.
After its games against Cal State Fullerton and Biola, San Diego State kicks off Mountain West play at New Mexico with a 2 p.m. MT game on Sat., Dec. 31.