Dec. 2, 2017
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | Game Notes
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State will play its first true road game of the season on Sunday when it travels to the desert to face Arizona, starting at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.
In addition to live stats and streaming video, SDSU alumnus Chris Ello will call the action courtside from McKale Center for an audio webcast on GoAztecs.com.
SDSU owns a 13-4 advantage in the all-time series vs. the Wildcats dating back to 1980.
The two sides will be meeting for the first time since 2009 when the Aztecs emerged triumphant in a low-scoring affair, 57-38, at Viejas Arena. In that contest, current SDSU director of player personnel Paris Johnson led the winning effort with 18 points and 10 rebounds as a junior center on that squad.
The Scarlet and Black is 6-2 against Arizona in Tucson, but has not played there since 1998, when it came out on the short end of a 76-69 decision.
The Aztecs captured the first 12 encounters against the Wildcats between 1980 and 1985 when the two sides were conference rivals in the West Coast Athletic Association. However, Arizona won all four matchups between 1993 and 1998.
Sunday's clash marks SDSU's first against a Pac-12 conference opponent since 2015, when it was dealt an 80-51 defeat at Washington.
After falling to Central Michigan and Tulane at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas over Thanksgiving weekend, the Aztecs rebounded in a big way last Wednesday with a thrilling 77-76 over San Diego in the annual crosstown battle at Steve Fisher Court.
Senior McKynzie Fort led all players with 24 points against the Toreros, including the game-winning layup with eight seconds left on the clock. She also topped the squad with six rebounds and a career-high eight assists.
With her effort, Fort moved into 10th place on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,329 career points. The SDSU guard needs just 13 points to surpass Aztec Hall of Famer Michelle Suman for ninth place in program history.
For the season, Fort is averaging 16.0 points per game, nearly 2.5 points more than her career pace. In addition, seniors Khalia Lark (5.3) and Geena Gomez (4.5) lead the team in rebounds and assists, respectively.
After opening the season with a pair of victories, Arizona (2-4) has lost four straight, including an 80-72 setback to Long Beach State at home in its last outing on Nov. 28.
The Wildcats and Aztecs have played one common opponent during their respective non-conference schedules. SDSU came away with a 58-55 victory over CSUN on Nov. 14, while Arizona dropped a 69-66 decision to the Matadors in Northridge on Nov. 25.
Through six games, the Wildcats boast three players with double-digit scoring averages, including senior JaLea Bennett, who ranks 11th in the Pac-12 with 14.7 points per game, followed by freshman Marlee Kyles (13.2 ppg) and junior Destiny Graham (10.3 ppg), who tops the conference in free-throw percentage (.880) after hitting 22 of her first 25 attempts from the charity stripe.
Sophomore Lucia Alonso also finds herself among the Pac-12 leaders in steals (5th, 2.7/gm) and assists (13th, 3.7/gm), while freshman Sam Thomas ranks sixth in both rebounds (8.5/gm) and steals (2.2/gm).
Senior Kat Wright is Arizona's top three-point threat, draining 12 of 41 attempts from beyond the arc (.293), while Alonso and Kyles have nailed nine treys apiece.
Following Sunday's tilt, SDSU opens a three-game homestand on Friday, Dec. 8, when it locks horns with UC Irvine in a matinee at Steve Fisher Court, starting at noon PT.