SAN DIEGO – The Aztecs (7-8, 1-3) return home for a pair of games this week. On Thursday they will host Utah State (5-9, 0-4) at 6 p.m. and on Saturday they welcome in Boise State (5-9, 1-2) for a 1 p.m. game.
Aztec Tidbits
• SDSU lost at New Mexico (13-4, 4-0) 75-72 last Sunday. The Aztecs nearly made a miraculous comeback, rallying from a 14-point deficit with 5:33 left to pull within three points.
• SDSU posted season-highs for total rebounds (53), offensive rebounds (24) and second-chance points (16).
• The Aztecs have held their opponent to just one second chance point over the last two games.
• The Aztecs nearly had three players with double-doubles. Kim Villalobos finished with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, Mallory Adams had a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds and Asia Avinger had 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
• This was Villalobos first career double-double and she is the third different Aztec to have one this year (Adams & Ramos)
• Adams (Frisco, Texas) is leading the Aztecs in scoring (14.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.3) in conference play.
• Avinger (Cerritos, Calif.) was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds. In MW games, she has 22 assists and just seven turnovers.
• Ramos (San Antonio, Texas) enters the week with 1,300 career points, good for the 12th most in program history. She also has 356 career assists and will move up to 7th all-time with three more assists. She is currently in the top 10 in program history in five statistical categories.
• Ramos is one of three active four-year players with career totals of at least 1,300 points, 450 rebounds, 350 assists and 100 steals (Portland's Haylee Andrews & Ohio's Erica Johnson).
• Ramos is third in the nation in total minutes (5:46:53) and is in the top 100 nationally in seven statistical categories.
• SDSU has three active players in the top eight all-time in career three-point percentage. Mercedes Staples (Centerville, Utah) is fourth at 37.8 percent (51-135), Isabela Hernandez is fifth (37.2%, 54-145) and Sophia Ramos is eighth (35.6%, 128-360).
• The Aztecs are committing just 12.9 turnovers per game, the 23rd fewest in the nation.
• The Aztecs went 6-5 in non-conference play, their first time having a winning record in OOC play since the 2017-18 season.
• The Aztecs officially joined the Jordan Brand family this season, becoming just the ninth women's basketball program in the Jordan lineup.
Opponent Notebook (Utah State)
• The Aggies are 5-9 and 0-4 in conference play.
• They have lost six games in a row and are 1-6 on the road.
• They are giving up 77.6 points per game, the most in the Mountain West.
• They have made and attempted the second most free throws in the conference.
• They average 17.5 turnovers per game, the most in the Mountain West.
• Kaylin Randhawa leads the Aggies with 15.7 points per game.
• Adryana Quezada averaged a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Head coach Kayla Ard is in her second season at Utah State. She came from Denver where she was their associate head coach for three years.
Series Notes
• The Aztecs lead the all-time series 10-7.
• SDSU is 7-7 against Utah State since they joined the Mountain West.
• The Aztecs are 6-2 against the Aggies at home.
• SDSU won the lone meeting last year 68-60. Mercedes Staples had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
• Prior to last season, SDSU had won four in a row and six of seven against the Lobos.
• Their first meeting was Dec. 5, 1980, a 79-51 Aztec win. SDSU won the first four meetings.
• The Aztecs scored 132 points against Utah State on Dec. 16, 1983.
Opponent Notebook (Boise State)
• The Broncos are 5-9 and 1-2 in conference play.
• They have had two conferences games postponed due to health and safety concerns (Wyoming & Nevada)
• They play at UNLV Thursday evening.
• They lead the conference in rebound margin (+7.5) and rebounds per game (41.3).
• They are holding their opponents to 37.9 percent shooting from the field, the second best in the conference.
• They are also second in the Mountain West in blocks (3.8) and assists per game (15.6).
• They are last in the conference in made threes per game (5.0) and three-point percentage (28.6%).
• Dominique Leonidas leads the Broncos with 11.4 points per game.
• Abby Muse averages 10.3 points and 7.6 rebounds.
• Elodie Lalotte averages 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds and is tied for the conference lead with six double-doubles.
• Head coach Gordy Presnell (17th season) has over 300 wins at Boise State and over 700 in his career (35th season). He has led Boise State to eight postseason appearances and 10 total conference titles.
Series Notes
• The Broncos lead the all-time series 11-9
• Boise State has won seven of the last eight meetings.
• They split their two meetings in Boise last year. The Aztecs won the first game 74-72 and the Broncos took game two 85-44.
• Sophia Ramos averaged 19.0 points in the two games last year.
• Prior to last season, SDSU had won four in a row and six of seven against the Lobos.
• Their first meeting was Dec. 20, 2005, a 54-51 Aztec win. SDSU won the first five meetings.
Aztecs Host Utah State Thursday Night
