LAS VEGAS – The Aztec women's basketball team (23-9) rallied to beat New Mexico (20-12) 69-68 in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament Monday afternoon.
SDSU, who trailed by as much as nine points, took their first and only lead of the game with 47 seconds left and then got a key defensive stop in the final seconds to escape with a victory.
The Aztecs will face the No. 1 seed UNLV (29-2), who is ranked No. 21 and 25 in the nation, in the semifinals Tuesday at 5 p.m.
"What a great basketball game," Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said after the game. "We were prepared to run with New Mexico, and it just came down to getting that last defensive stop. We have a great team, and the chemistry is unreal. They love each other and they play for each other."
The Aztecs finished with six players in double-digits and were led by Sophia Ramos who had 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Yummy Morris and Asia Avinger each finished with 12 while Morris had a game-high nine rebounds. Kim Villalobos, Mercedes Staples, and Abby Prohaska each added 10.
The Aztecs fell behind 11-4 in the first five minutes of the game and then trailed until the final minute, although they were able to tie the Lobos seven times in the second half.
SDSU made their first five shots of the second quarter to pull within three, but the Lobos were quickly able to push their lead back to eight.
In the final 16 minutes, SDSU never trailed by more than six, but each time they knotted the score up, the Lobos had an answer.
SDSU trailed 68-64 with 1:47 left but scored the game's final five points. Staples hit a three with 1:29 left and then Avinger hit what would be the game-winner with 47 seconds remaining.
Morris blocked Shaiquel McGruder's jumper with 39 seconds left, but then SDSU turned the ball over with 12 seconds left. The Lobos elected not to call a timeout and got a decent look from Aniyah Augmon underneath the hoop, but it rimmed out with two seconds left.
The Aztecs shot 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three and held the Lobos to 5-for-19 (26%) from three.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Aztecs took their first and only lead with 47 seconds remaining.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
We always take pride in how deep our team is. Any given day anyone can have a good game. Six of us had double figures, which was clearly very important because we only pulled out a one-point victory." Sophia Ramos on SDSU having six players in double-digits
THE NOTE
The Aztecs improved to 18-3 when scoring 60 or more points.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play the No. 1 seed UNLV (29-2) in the Mountain West semifinals Tuesday at 5 p.m.