SAN DIEGO – The Aztec women's basketball team (4-7, 2-3) hosts Air Force (3-8, 1-5) this weekend. The Aztecs will take on the Falcons on Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with Chris Ello on the call.
Aztec Notes
• The Aztecs beat Utah State 68-60 last Thursday after coming back from a double-digit deficit. Fueled by clutch performances from Mercedes Staples and Flo Vinerte, the Aztecs scored a season-high 24 fourth quarter points to complete the comeback.
• Saturday's game against the Aggies was postponed due to a COVID-19 issue within the Utah State travel party.
• Mercedes Staples scored a career-high 24 points in Thursday's win over Utah State while bringing in 10 rebounds, her third triple double of the season. She scored 12 of her points in the fourth quarter.
• In conference play, Staples is averaging a double-double (13.6 points and 10 rebounds per game). She leads the conference in total rebounds (95) and defensive rebounds per game (7.5) and is third in rebounds per game (8.6).
• Téa Adams, the Aztecs' lone senior, played in her 100th career game last Thursday. She has started 70 games and scored in 95 of them, including 57 straight. Adams is averaging 15.6 points in conference play.
• The SDSU freshmen trio of Kamaria Gipson, Kim Villalobos and Flo Vinerte combined for 26 points and 19 rebounds in Thursday's win.
• The Aztecs had a season-high 16 assists last Thursday vs. Utah State.
• SDSU is averaging just 10.5 turnovers per game over their last four contests after averaging 17.3 in their first seven games.
• Despite having four games canceled or postponed this season, the Aztecs are tied for the most games played in the Mountain West.
• The Mountain West posted a .600 win percentage (27-18) in non-conference play in 2020-21. If the season were to end today, this would be the conference's best win percentage in non-conference action since the 2009-10 season (.622).
• SDSU announced they will be the newest member of the Jordan Brand family beginning at the start of the 2021-22 season. SDSU is just the ninth women's basketball program in the Jordan lineup.
Opponent Notebook (Air Force)
• Air Force is 3-8 on the season and 1-5 in conference.
• They have lost three in a row and five of their last six.
• Their lone Mountain West win came against first place Boise State, a convincing 76-52 victory.
• The Falcons returned all five starters and 12 letterwinners from last year's team which finished 7-11 in the Mountain West (T-7th).
• Riley Snyder leads the team with 16.1 points per game.
• Briana Autrey is scoring 13.1 points per game and leads the Mountain West with 3.5 steals per game. She also leads Air Force with 4.2 assists per game.
• Air Force leads the conference and is sixth in the nation with 12.5 steals per game. However, they are last in the MW in opponents field goal percentage (.457).
• The Falcons average 62.6 points per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the field, both rank 10th in the Mountain West.
• Head coach Chris Gobrecht is in her sixth season with the Falcons and her 41st season overall. She is 32-130 at Air Force and 574-603 overall.
Series Notes
• San Diego State leads the all-time series 36-11
• The Aztecs are 17-5 all-time against the Aggies at home.
• Although SDSU holds a huge advantage in the all-time series, the Aztecs are 3-5 against Air Force since the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
• Over the last nine meetings, a team has reached 70 points only once.
• SDSU won 12 straight games against Air Force from 2011-16.
• The Aztecs won the first meeting, a 70-41 victory at home January 11, 1997.
• SDSU won 13 of the first 14 meetings.
Notes from Last Time Out (W, 68-60 vs. Utah State, 1-14-21)
• Mercedes Staples finished with a career-high 24 points while collecting 10 rebounds. She had 12 points in the fourth quarter.
• Flo Vinerte also had a career-high with 10 points, eight of those came in the final quarter. The Aztecs also got key contributions from Kim Villalobos (10 points, eight rebounds), Téa Adams (seven points, six assists) and Kamaria Gipson (six points, eight rebounds).
• The Aztecs had a season-high 16 assists.
• This was the Aztecs' largest comeback win (10 points) of the season.
• This was SDSU's third straight game committing 10 or less turnovers.
• The Aztecs made 17 free throws, tied for their most in a game this season.
• SDSU scored 45 second half points with 24 coming in their fourth quarter, both are season-highs.
• Isabela Hernandez had a career-high three assists and tied a career-high with three steals.
• Mercedes Staples recorded her third double-double and fourth game with 10 or more rebounds. In conference play, Staples is averaging a double-double (13.6 points and 10.0 rebounds).
• Kim Villalobos had a career-high eight rebounds and tied a career-high with three starts.
Aztecs Welcome in Air Force This Weekend
