SAN DIEGO – The Aztec women's basketball team (8-11, 3-4) plays at Nevada (8-9, 1-5) at 2 p.m. PT Saturday afternoon. The game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network and there will be an audio-only broadcast with Chris Ello on the call as well.
Aztec Tidbits
• With a 3-4 record in Mountain West play, the Aztecs are in sixth place. The top five teams receive a first-round bye at the Mountain West Tournament.
• The Aztecs lost to first place Fresno State 65-60 Wednesday evening. The Aztecs led by eight points early in the third quarter but saw the Bulldogs knock down eight threes in the second half.
• SDSU held the Bulldogs to 65 points, 13.8 points below their season average.
• The Aztecs had assists on 20 of their 24 field goals.
• Taylor Kalmer led SDSU with 20 points, her second straight game (fourth overall) she has scored 20 or more points, making her the first Aztec to top 20 points in consecutive games since McKynzie Fort did it December of 2017.
• Taylor Kalmer has scored in double-digits in 17 of SDSU's 19 games and in 13 straight. Prior to coming to SDSU, she scored 10 or more points 11 times in 80 games while at Oregon State.
• Zayn Dornstauder scored 12 points and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in just 11 minutes. She is now shooting 59.2 percent from the floor on the season, which would be the fifth best field goal percentage in a single-season in school history (min. 100 attempts).
• As of Thursday, Taylor Kalmer and Sophia Ramos are second and third in the nation in total minutes played.
• SDSU is top three in the conference in blocks per game, total rebounds, and free throws made and attempted.
• The Aztecs are 8-3 when they have a better field goal percentage than their opponent and 0-8 when they don't.
• 2020 commits Asia Avinger and Flera "Flo" Vinerte were nominated for the McDonald's All-American game.
• SDSU secured a commitment from Minnesota transfer Mercedes Staples last week. The 5'10" guard will be eligible midway through next season as a junior. A former top-75 recruit, Staples appeared in 33 games for the Golden Gophers and made three starts.
Noting the Fresno State Game (L, 60-65, 1-15-20)
• This was just the second time the Aztecs have lost when holding a lead at halftime (6-2).
• This was Fresno State's first loss when failing to score 70 points. They were 0-4 entering the night.
• This was the second game in a row SDSU has lost despite having a better shooting percentage (8-3).
• The Aztecs had just 11 turnovers after having 21 in their first meeting two weeks ago.
• The Aztecs had 20 assists on 24 field goals, their third time dishing out 20 assists.
• SDSU led by eight points early in the third quarter, the largest lead they have had in a loss this season.
• SDSU was just 6-for-14 from the line and are now 0-6 when they have less made free throws than their opponent.
• Fresno State made 10-three-pointers, tied for the most the Aztecs have allowed this season. The Bulldogs had eight in the second half including five from Haley Cavinder.
• Fresno State only committed eight fouls, a season-low for an Aztec opponent.
• The Bulldogs were 9-for-9 from the free throw line, the first SDSU opponent to not miss a free throw this season.
• Fresno State scored just five points in the second quarter, the second-fewest SDSU has allowed in a quarter all year.
• The Bulldogs rebounded to score 45 points in the second half, topping the 43 they scored in the first meeting two weeks ago.
• Monique Terry had a career-high 10 rebounds.
• Taylor Kalmer scored 20 points for the second straight game, the first time an Aztec has done that since McKynzie Fort accomplished it in December of 2017.
• Zayn Dornstauder finished with 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting in just 11 minutes. She is the first Aztec this season to make at least five field goals without a miss.
• Dornstauder is shooting 59.2 percent from the field on the year, which would be the fifth best in a single-season in school history (min. 100 attempts)
• Baylee Vanderdoes tied a career-high with three assists.
• Kiara Edwards recorded her first career block.
Opponent Notebook (Nevada)
• The Wolf Pack are 8-9 on the year and 1-5 in conference.
• They went 12-19 last year and 7-11 in Mountain West play.
• Their one Mountain West win came at home against last place Utah State.
• They have lost four of their last five games.
• Nevada is second to last in the conference in three-pointers made and attempted and free throw percentage.
• The Wolf Pack have three players averaging double-digits: Imani Lacy (11.4), Essence Booker (11.0) and Marguerite Effa (10.5).
• Dom Phillips is scoring 10.2 points per game in conference.
• Imani Lacy leads the conference with 1.8 blocks per game.
• Head coach Amanda Levens (3rd season) led Nevada to 19 wins in her first season, the second most in program history. Prior to coming to Reno, she was the associate head coach at Arizona State from 2012-17.
Series Notes
• The all-time series is tied at 11-11.
• The series is also tied at 8-8 since Nevada joined the Mountain West.
• Each team is 7-2 at home.
• Last year, the home team won each meeting.
• The Aztecs have lost their last five games in Reno. Their last win there was Feb. 23, 2013.
• Their first meeting was January 2, 1984 a 90-44 SDSU win, which is still the Aztecs biggest win over the Wolf Pack.