LAS VEGAS – Three members of the San Diego State women’s basketball team were honored by the Mountain West, the conference office announced Sunday morning. Veronica Sheffey was named to the All-Mountain West Team and Naomi Panganiban and Nat Martinez made the All-Freshman Team.
In her first year at SDSU after transferring from the University of San Diego, Sheffey (Woodinville, Wash.) led the Aztecs in scoring (12.6), assists (2.8), steals (12.3), free throw percentage (86%) and minutes (31.8) during conference play.
Sheffey shot 45.9% from the field, 45.8% from three and her 85.5% from the line was fourth in the conference. She scored double-digits in 13 of SDSU’s 18 Mountain West games, and was at her best against first place UNLV, who she averaged 18.0 points against and scored the game-winning buzzer beater against.
Panganiban, a San Diego native, averaged 9.8 points in Mountain West games and scored in double-digits nine times. She started 15 conference games and averaged 26.7 minutes, 1.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
Martinez (San Leandro, Calif.) averaged 7.2 points in conference play while shooting an efficient 47% from the field, 40% from three and 78% from the line. She started the final 12 games of the season and averaged 24.0 minutes, third on the team. At Utah State, she became just the second player in Mountain West history, regardless of class, to have at least 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a game.
Panganiban and Martinez tied for the most three-pointers on the team for both the season and in Mountain West play.
This is just the second time in school history that the Aztecs landed two players on the Mountain West All-Freshman Team (Mallory Adams & Sophia Ramos in 2018-19). Both Panganiban and Martinez won the Mountain West Freshman of the Week award three times, which was the most in the conference and a school record.
The Aztecs begin the Mountain West tournament Monday when they face New Mexico in the quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m.
ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST (10)
Madison Smith, Sr., G, Air Force
Tatum Thompson, Jr., G, Boise State
Emma Ronsiek, Gr., F, Colorado State
Mia Jacobs, Jr., F, Fresno State
Vianè Cumber, G, New Mexico
Veronica Sheffey, Jr., G, San Diego State
Kiara Jackson, Sr., G, UNLV
Amarachi Kimpson, So., G, UNLV
Allyson Fertig, Sr., C, Wyoming
Malene Pedersen, Jr., G, Wyoming
HONORABLE MENTION
Milahnie Perry, Jr., G, Air Force
Destinee Hooks, So., New Mexico
Alyssa Brown, Sr., F, UNLV
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM (5)
Madison Smith, Sr., G, Air Force
Hannah Ronsiek, Jr., G, Colorado State
Alyssa Brown, Sr., F, UNLV
Allyson Fertig, Sr., C, Wyoming
Emily Mellema, Sr., G, Wyoming
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM (6)
Brooke Carlson, Fr., G, Colorado State
Kloe Froebe, Fr., G, Colorado State
Joana Magalhães, Fr., G, New Mexico
Nat Martinez, Fr., G, San Diego State
Naomi Panganiban, Fr., G, San Diego State
Meadow Roland, R-Fr., F, UNLV
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Allyson Fertig, Sr., C, Wyoming
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emily Mellema, Sr., G, Wyoming
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Emma Ronsiek, Gr., F, Colorado State
SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Meadow Roland, R-Fr., F, UNLV
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Meadow Roland, R-Fr., F, UNLV
COACH OF THE YEAR
Lindy La Rocque, UNLV