SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State women’s basketball team (21-4, 15-1) extended their lead on first place in the Mountain West to three games with an emphatic 80-62 win over second place UNLV (17-9, 12-4) inside Viejas Arena Wednesday night.
The Aztecs had all five starters scored in double-digits and SDSU outscored the Rebels 25-11 in the fourth quarter to improve to 15-1 in conference play.
“This group is in the gym constantly and really wants to be great,” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said after the game. “They set a goal for themselves to win a regular season championship, so we talk about doing it game-by-game and brick-by-brick and they’ve done that so far.”
Naomi Panganiban scored a game-high 20 points, while Kennedy Lee (16 points and 10 rebounds) and Nala Williams (13 points and 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles. Bailey Barnhard had 14 points and eight rebounds and Nat Martinez had 13 points.
With the top two teams in the conference battling, the intensity was high from the tip. There were eight lead changes and five ties in the first half, but both teams also traded big runs before ending up at a 38-35 Aztec lead at the half. UNLV had a 15-3 run in the second quarter, but then the Aztecs closed out the first half on an 8-0 run punctuated by a Panganiban and-one in the final second.
SDSU began the fourth quarter on a 14-5 run and ended up shooting 63 percent in the frame while holding the Rebels, who have won the last four regular season championships to a 24 percent clip.
Aaliyah Alexander and Meadow Roland each finished with 18 points for UNLV.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Aztecs had 14 assists and just six turnovers.
THE NOTE I
This was head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson’s 200th career win.
THE NOTE II
UNLV has lost just eight times in their last 81 conference games. Four of the losses have come to the Aztecs in the last two seasons.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
“It was a great day to be an Aztec. It was a great game. I’m proud of our team, but even more proud of this community that showed up and it felt like the roof was going to come off. I’m so grateful because these young ladies work so hard every day and they deserve that support.” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson on the crowd tonight
UP NEXT
The Aztecs host Fresno State Saturday at 1 p.m. SDSU clinches at least a share of the regular season championship with a win.