COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Aztec women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West preseason poll. SDSU placed Sophia Ramos on the preseason All-Conference team and saw Asia Avinger tabbed as the preseason Freshman of the Year.
Ramos (San Antonio, Texas) was one of five players selected to the preseason all-conference team as selected by the league's coaches and members of the media. Last season she was one of two players in the conference to rank in the top ten in points, rebounds and assists. She finished fourth in scoring (15.4), sixth in assists (3.8) and ninth in rebounding (7.2) in conference play. She also finished with the second-best free throw percentage (.851) and second most made free throws (80).
Ramos scored in double-digits in 15 of the 18 Mountain West games last season and had three games with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, tied for the third most in the nation. Ramos is the first Aztec selected to the preseason all-conference team since 2017 (McKynzie Fort).
One of the nation's best combo guards according to espnW, Avinger (Cerritos, Calif.) was ranked No. 56 in the nation according to ESPN, the highest ranked recruit under Stacie Terry-Hutson. Following her senior year, she was named the Orange County Register's Female Athlete of the Year and to the MaxPreps All-California First Team. She was also named the Trinity League MVP and the Orange County Player of the Year.
As a senior she averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists and helped lead Rosary High School to the 2020 CIF Southern California DI Regional championship before the tournament was suspended due to COVID-19. Avinger is the first Aztec to be named the Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year since McKynzie Fort in 2014.
The Aztecs', who received one first place vote, predicted fourth place finish is their highest since the 2013-14 preseason when they were picked to finish third.
Fresno State, the reigning regular season champion, was picked to win the conference and picked up 22 of the 26 first place votes. The Bulldogs were followed by San Jose State and Boise State with the Spartans earning two first place votes and the Broncos picking up one.
After SDSU, the predicted order of finish was Wyoming, New Mexico, Air Force, Colorado State, UNLV, Nevada and Utah State.
SDSU went 9-9 in conference play last season and tied for fifth place, their highest finish since 2012-13. In addition to Ramos, the Aztecs return senior starting guard Téa Adams and sophomore forward Mallory Adams, an all-conference honorable mention selection in 2018-19, who was limited to six games last year due to injury.
The Aztecs have eight newcomers (five freshmen and three transfers) who will be joining the program for the 2020-21 season, including Minnesota transfer Mercedes Staples and Avinger.
The Aztecs open the season November 27 in Las Vegas against Lamar.
Mountain West Preseason Predicted Order of Finish – Selected by Coaches & Media
School (First Place votes) – Total Points
1. Fresno State (22) – 266
2. San Jose State (2) – 239
2. Boise State (1) – 221
4. SAN DIEGO STATE (1) – 185
5. Wyoming - 173
6. New Mexico - 145
7. Air Force - 120
8. Colorado State - 117
9. UNLV - 11
10. Nevada - 95
11. Utah State - 44
Mountain West Preseason Awards
Player of the Year – Maddie Utti, Sr., Forward, Fresno State
Newcomer of the Year – LaTascya Duff, Jr., Guard, New Mexico
Freshman of the Year – Asia Avinger, San Diego State
Mountain West Preseason All-Conference
Mallory McGwire, Sr., C, Boise State
Haley Cavinder, So., G, Fresno State
Maddi Utti, Sr., G, Fresno State
Sophia Ramos, Jr., Guard, San Diego State
Ayzhiana Basallo, Jr., Guard, San Jose State
Ramos & Avinger Earn Preseason Recognition
