COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Aztec women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West preseason poll, the conference office announced Wednesday morning. Additionally, Sophia Ramos was named to the five-person preseason All-Mountain West Team.
Ramos, a fifth-year senior out of San Antonio, Texas, scored in double-digits in 28 of SDSU's 31 games last year while averaging 14.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game and shooting a career-best 36.9 percent from three. She was an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection last year and made the all-conference team following the 2019-20 season.
A four-year starter, Ramos is the only Aztec in program history to have over 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in a career.
The Aztecs had their best record under head Coach Stacie Terry-Hutson last year and this year's roster boasts 10 upperclassmen and six fifth-year players. In addition to Ramos, SDSU returns starting guards Asia Avinger, who was named to the Mountain West All-Freshman Team last year, and Mercedes Staples.
In the post, the Aztecs bring back junior Kim Villalobos (6.7 ppg) and added TCU transfer, Yummy Morris, who appeared in over 100 games for the Horned Frogs.
Other newcomers in the backcourt include Abby Prohaska (Notre Dame), Sarah Barcello (Marist) and Jaida Brooks (PHH Prep). The Aztecs also return Khylee-Jade Pepe, Meghan Fiso, Alex Crain and Bailee Chynoweth.
UNLV, last year's regular season and tournament champ, was predicted to finish first and received 26 of the 28 first place votes. They were followed by New Mexico, who received the other two first place votes.
The two teams ahead of the Aztecs were Colorado State and Wyoming, who had just seven more points than SDSU.
Behind the Aztecs was Nevada, Boise State, Air Force, Fresno State, San Jose State and Utah State.
Their predicted fifth place finish ties the 2019-20 team as the highest preseason rank since the 2013-14 season.
SDSU opens the season Nov. 7 at Stanford.
2022-23 MOUNTAIN WEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. UNLV (26) 297
2. New Mexico (2) 264
3. Colorado State 232
4. Wyoming 207
5. San Diego State 200
6. Nevada 142
7. Boise State 140
8. Air Force 125
9. Fresno State 113
10. San José State 67
11. Utah State 61
2022-23 PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM
Pos. Name Yr. Team
G McKenna Hofschild Sr. Colorado State
F Shaiquel McGruder Sr. New Mexico
G Sophia Ramos Sr. San Diego State
G Essence Booker Sr. UNLV
C Desi-Rae Young Jr. UNLV
Preseason Player of the Year
Desi-Rae Young, Jr., C, UNLV
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Amaya Brown, Sr., G, New Mexico
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Hannah Robbins, G, New Mexico
Sophia Ramos Named to Preseason All-MW Team
