ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The San Diego State women’s basketball team (16-7, 5-5) beat New Mexico (13-10, 6-4) 59-46 at the Pit Saturday afternoon. The Aztecs never trailed but the Lobos pulled within one point entering the fourth quarter only for SDSU to begin the quarter on a 17-2 run.
SDSU held the Lobos to 23% shooting from the field and 10% shooting from three (3-for-29) and limited New Mexico to 27 points below their season average.
“We knew we were going to have to score to beat them,” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said after the game. “But to hold them to 46 points, well below their average, is why we won the game. We played like a team determined to win.”
Freshman Naomi Panganiban led the Aztecs with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Kim Villalobos, who was playing in her school record 142nd game, had 12 points. Cali Clark had a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
“Cali does a lot of things for us,” Terry-Hutson praised. “She was really aggressive and her defense and rebounding was key today. I wish we had her longer than just this year.”
Clark’s 17 rebounds was the most by an Aztec in six years and she became just the fifth Aztec in the Mountain West era (26 years) to bring in 17 or more rebounds in a game.
The Aztecs began the game on a 12-0 run and held the Lobos to 3-for-17 shooting in the first quarter.
SDSU’s defense didn’t let up in the second quarter as they forced the Lobos to miss their first 11 shots.
Despite stifling defense, the Aztecs couldn’t extend their lead to double-digits and led by just one point entering the fourth quarter.
SDSU began the final quarter on a 9-0 run and allowed the Lobos to make just one field goal in the final 10 minutes.
The Aztecs outrebounded New Mexico 53-40 and outscored them in the paint 38-20.
STAT OF THE GAME I
The Aztecs had more assists (16) than New Mexico had field goals (15).
STAT OF THE GAME II
This was just the second time in the last 14 years that SDSU held an opponent to 23% shooting or worse on the road.
THE NOTE
Kim Villalobos set a new school record by playing in her 142nd career game. It was her 100th straight game.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play at Fresno State Wednesday.