LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The San Diego State women’s basketball team (14-3, 8-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the Mountain West with a 75-66 win in overtime at UNLV (12-6, 7-1) Saturday afternoon. The Aztecs extended their win streak to 10 games and improved to 8-0 in Mountain West play for the first time in program history.
SDSU led by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter only to see the Rebels rally back with a 14-2 run to force overtime. However, the Aztecs forced five turnovers and held UNLV to one field goal in overtime while outscoring the Rebels 12-3 to earn the win.
“This is a great rivalry. Both teams are competitive and want to win,” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said after the game. “I’m proud of our effort. It wasn’t our best game, but we played hard and recovered in overtime.”
The Aztecs forced 24 turnovers and had 12 steals while making 10 three-pointers. SDSU was led in scoring by their dynamic sophomore guards Naomi Panganiban and Nat Martinez. Panganiban had 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting while Martinez had 19 points. The duo scored 26 of SDSU’s second half points.
Nala Williams stuffed the stat sheet with seven assists, four steals and five rebounds and hounded UNLV’s perimeter players all game.
In a game with a March atmosphere, both teams were efficient on offense, both shooting above 45% from the field and from three. UNLV struck first and opened up an eight-point lead in the first quarter.
The Aztecs responded to trail by just one point at the half. Nat Martinez hit back-to-back threes to start the third quarter to put SDSU up six, only to see UNLV go on an 8-0 run. The Aztecs bounced back with an 11-0 run fueled by making five of six three-pointers in a five-minute span.
SDSU led by 10 with 4:18 remaining but coughed up the lead and trailed by two with 47 seconds left. Panganiban came through in the clutch with a three-pointer on the next possession and then UNLV tied it at 63 with 18 seconds remaining.
Kennedy Lee was fouled on an offensive putback with 1.4 seconds left, but missed both free throws, sending the game to overtime.
UNLV scored first, but after a Panganiban jumper SDSU would never trail again.
UNLV was led by Aaliyah Alexander’s 18 points.
STAT OF THE GAME
26 of SDSU’s 33 second half points came from Nat Martinez and Naomi Panganiban.
THE NOTE
This is the first time the Aztecs have started 8-0 in Mountain West play.
UP NEXT
SDSU hosts San Jose State Saturday at 1 p.m.