SAN DIEGO – The Aztec women's basketball team (11-12, 5-7) plays at first place UNLV (19-4, 11-1) Saturday at 2 p.m. This is SDSU's first and only meeting with the Rebels this year, who are on a nine-game winning streak.
Aztec Tidbits
• The Aztecs beat Nevada 68-57 on Wednesday, giving the Wolf Pack just their fourth conference loss.
• SDSU shot a season-best 52 percent from the floor after being held to a season-low 46 points at Nevada three weeks prior.
• Mercedes Staples scored a season-high 21 points Wednesday on 9-for-13 shooting.
• Meghan Fiso, a sophomore transfer from Michigan, had the best game of her career. She set new career-highs for points (13) and assists (3).
• Staples became the fourth Aztec to score 20 or more points in a game this season. This is the first time since the 2017-18 season that SDSU has had at least four players score 20 or more points in a game.
• For the first time this season, SDSU has four players averaging 10 points or more: Ramos (15.0), Avinger (12.0), Adams (10.6) and Staples (10.5).
• Sophia Ramos (San Antonio, Texas) has scored in double-digits in all but two games this season and has scored 20 or more points in three of her last four games, averaging 21.5 points and 4.6 assists per game in that span.
• Ramos is one of three active four-year players with career totals of at least 1,400 points, 500 rebounds, 350 assists and 150 steals (Ohio's Erica Johnson & Florida's Kiara Smith).
• Ramos is currently in the top 10 in program history in seven statistical categories, including assists (6th), made threes (6th), made free throws (7th) and points (8th) and three-point percentage (10th).
• Ramos is second in the conference in steals per game (2.1) and minutes per game (37.05) and third in made threes (47). She is in the top 100 nationally in eighth statistical categories.
• Mallory Adams (Frisco, Texas) is averaging 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in conference games and is making 2.9 three-pointers per game, the most in the Mountain West.
• Adams has the second most career double-doubles in the Mountain West (12). She reached the 800 point and 500 rebound plateau for her career at Utah State last Wednesday.
• Asia Avinger (Cerritos, Calif.) is one of three freshmen in the nation to average at least 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. (Notre Dame's Olivia Miles & Pacific's Anaya James). Avinger leads all Mountain West freshmen in scoring and assists.
• SDSU has three active players in the top 10 all-time in career three-point percentage. Mercedes Staples (Centerville, Utah) is fourth at 37.7 percent (58-154), Isabela Hernandez is seventh (35.5%, 59-166) and Sophia Ramos is 10th (35.3%, 143-405).
• The Aztecs are second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (.384) and third in opponent three-point percentage (.298).
• SDSU's total score in Mountain West games is exactly 761-761.
Opponent Notebook (UNLV)
• The Rebels are 19-4 on the year and are in first place in the Mountain West with an 11-1 record in conference.
• They also have the highest NET ranking in the Mountain West (81).
• They have won nine games in a row.
• They are 10-1 at home.
• They lead the Mountain West in scoring margin (+11.3) and rebound margin (+8.3)
• They are second in the conference in points per game (75.4) and field goal percentage (.444).
• The Rebels struggle with turnovers, committing 15.0 per game.
• Both Desi-Rae Young (15.6) and Essence Booker (15.3) average at least 15 points per game.
• The duo is first and second in the league in free throw attempts.
• Young averages 8.2 rebounds per game and shoots 53 percent from the floor, second in the conference among qualified players.
• Alyssa Durazo-Frescas shoots 43.1 percent from three and makes 2.04 per game.
• Head coach Lindy La Rocque was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year last year, her first at UNLV, after leading the Rebels to a second-place finish. UNLV had the sixth youngest team in the nation and was picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll.
Series Notes
• UNLV leads the all-time series 34-29.
• The Aztecs are 10-22 all-time at UNLV.
• The Rebels have won the last three meetings and eight of the last nine.
• Both games were played in San Diego last year where the Rebels won 80-65 and 73-71.
• Saturday will be the only game the two teams play this year.
• From 2007 to 2013, SDSU won 13 of the 14 meetings.
• The first meeting was Feb. 2, 1979, a 78-58 Rebel win.
Aztecs at First Place UNLV Saturday
