Women's Basketball

Aztecs Taking on UC Irvine in WBIT at USD Thursday

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Aztecs Taking on UC Irvine in WBIT at USD ThursdayAztecs Taking on UC Irvine in WBIT at USD Thursday
Derrick Tuskan/UC San Diego

SAN DIEGO – The No. 4 seed San Diego State women’s basketball team hosts UC Irvine in the first round of the WBIT Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and played at the University of San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion, due to the first two rounds of the NCAA men’s tournament being held at Viejas Arena.

 

Aztec Tidbits

  • If SDSU beats UC Irvine, they will play the winner of No. 1 seed Texas A&M and McNeese.
  • This is the third time in the last four seasons that SDSU has made the postseason (WNIT 2023, NCAA 2025, WBIT 2026)
  • SDSU won the Mountain West regular season championship outright. This is the seventh time SDSU has won a regular season championship (fourth in the Mountain West) and first since 2012-13. The Aztecs won the Mountain West Tournament championship last season.
  • The Aztecs have won 21 of their last 23 games.
  • SDSU’s 19 conference wins this season were the most in Mountain West history (for men’s and women’s).
  • The Aztecs were one of five teams in the country to win their conference by at least four games.
  • SDSU commits just 12.5 turnovers per game, which would be a school record and is 16th in the country. Their assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.10 would be the program’s best since the 1983-84 season.
  • The Aztecs are averaging 70.6 points per game, which would be the highest since the 1993-94 season. SDSU is shooting 49.4% on two-pointers, also their best since 1993-94.
  • SDSU is making 8.5 three-pointers per game and shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc, both of which would be school records and are top 25 in the country. The Aztecs have made more threes than their opponent in 26 of their 30 games and have 12 games with 10 or more three-pointers. The Aztecs made 10+ threes just eight times across the previous three seasons. SDSU has made more threes than their opponent in 25 of their 29 games and have 12 games with 10 or more three-pointers. The Aztecs made 10+ threes just eight times across the previous three seasons.
  • The Aztecs shot 39% from three in conference play with all five starters shooting at least 36% from distance.
  • SDSU led the Mountain West in points per game (71.0), field goal percentage (45.6%) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.10) in conference play.
  • Defensively, the Aztecs held teams to 58.4 points on 37.6% shooting in conference play while leading the league in defensive rebounds per game (28.5) and defensive rebound percentage (76.5%).
  • The Aztecs finished the regular season 10-1 on the road and 14-1 at home. The Aztecs along with UConn, UCLA and South Carolina are the only teams in the nation that had one loss or fewer at home and on the road.
  • SDSU’s .909 road win percentage this season would be the highest in program history. They are 19-5 on the road since the beginning of last year.

All-Mountain West Awards Recap

The Aztecs were heavily rewarded in the Mountain West’s postseason awards as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Stacie Terry-Hutson was named Coach of the Year. Nala Williams was named the Mountain West Player of the Year, to the All-Mountain West Team and to the All-Defensive Team. Kaelyn Hamilton earned the Sixth Player of the Year Award and Naomi Panganiban was named to the All-Mountain West Team.

Williams (Long Beach, Calif.) led the Mountain West in assists per game (4.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.41). She shot 46% from the field and 42% from three in conference play and was the only player in the conference to have a game with 10+ assists. She won Mountain West Player of the Week twice and has the best assist-to-turnover ratio by an Aztec in the Mountain West era (since 1999).

Williams had 12 games with 10+ points and eight with five or more assists. She also finished fifth in the conference in steals per game (1.6). Last season at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Williams was named the DII National Player of the Year and the National Defensive Player of the Year.

Hamilton (McKinney, Texas) averaged 8.2 points on 55% shooting from the field and 44% from three in just 18.8 minutes per game in conference play. Her 8.2 points per game tied for the second most among players eligible for the Sixth Person of the Year Award. She came on strong in the last month, averaging 10.3 points per game over the last 11 games while setting a new career-high for points three times. Hamilton is the first Aztec to win the Sixth Person of the Year award.

In conference play, Panganiban (San Diego, Calif.) led the Aztecs in scoring with 14.4 points per game, good for fifth in the Mountain West. She scored in double-digits in 15 of SDSU’s 20 games and had three games with 20+ points. She was at her best against the top teams in the league, scoring 20 points in both games against second place UNLV.

Terry-Hutson led the Aztecs to a Mountain West record 19 wins and won the conference’s regular season championship. In the 2025-26 season, the Aztecs have already set a school record for three-pointers, are on pace to break their previous best mark for fewest turnovers per game and are averaging their most points per game in over 30 years.

Terry-Hutson has led the Aztecs to back-to-back 25-win seasons while securing the 2025 Mountain West Tournament championship and the 2026 regular season championship. SDSU is one of four teams in the nation to have one or less loss at home and on the road, joining national powerhouses UConn, UCLA and South Carolina.

Player Notes

Naomi Panganiban (Sophomore, Guard, San Diego, Calif.)
All-Mountain West Team

  • Naomi Panganiban has scored 10+ points in 23 of SDSU’s 30 games and in 10 of her last 11. She has six games with 20 or more points this season.
  • She set career-highs for points (29) and assists (6) while having no turnovers against Air Force in the Mountain West Tournament.
  • Her 29 points were the most ever by an Aztec in the Mountain West Tournament and she became the first Aztec to ever have at least 29 points and six assists in a game in the Mountain West era (since 1999)
  • Her 20.2 points per 40 minutes if the fifth best by an Aztec in the Mountain West era and second best under head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson (13th season)
  • She scored 20 points in both games against second place UNLV.
  • Playing for the Philippine National Team at the FIBA Asia Cup over the summer, she tied for the team lead in scoring (13.2 ppg) despite being the youngest on the team.
  • The Philippines clinched a spot in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament for the first time ever.

Nala Williams (Senior, Guard, Long Beach, Calif.)
Mountain West Player of the Year, All-Mountain West Team & All-Defensive Team

  • Nala Williams’ assist-to-turnover of 2.41 is the best by an Aztec in the Mountain West era (since 1999) and is 14th in the nation among qualified players.
  • In her career, she has 1,71 points, 634 rebounds, 456 assists and 351 steals in 121 games. She is one of two players in the nation with at least 1,700 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 350 steals (across all divisions).
  • She led the Mountain West in assists per game (4.3) in conference play.
  • Williams shot 46% from the field and 21% from three in conference play.
  • Her 351 career steals are the ninth most in the nation across all divisions among active players. She ranks 17th in steals per game (2.9) for a career.
  • She has scored double-digits in 91 of her 121 career games and has scored 20 or more 31 times. Her career-high is 42.
  • Nala Williams won Mountain West Player of the Week award twice this year, giving her nine total conference player of the week awards (seven times with Cal State Dominguez Hills)
  • Last year at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Nala Williams was named the DII National Player of the Year and the National Defensive Player of the Year after helping her school go 36-2 and make the national title game.
  • She had 152 steals last year (4.0/game), which was the most in the nation across all divisions. No one else had more than 140 steals and only three other players had 130 or more.

Kaelyn Hamilton (Sophomore, Guard, McKinney, Texas)
Sixth Player of the Year

  • Kaelyn Hamilton averaged 8.2 points on 55% shooting from the field and 44% from three in just 18.8 minutes per game during conference play.
  • Hamilton is averaging 10.6 points per game over the last 12 games while setting a new career-high for points three times.
  • Her 7.5 points per game off the bench is the second most by an Aztec in the Mountain West era (since 1999).

Nat Martinez (Sophomore, Guard, San Leandro, Calif.)

  • Nat Martinez is averaging 17.6 points per game this season when playing a power-four program or second place UNLV.
  • In her five career games against power-four programs, she is averaging 17.0 points per game shooting 55% from the field and 58% from three.
  • She was named to the Mountain West All-Freshman Team a year ago and shot 41.9% from three, the fifth best in a single season in program history.

Bailey Barnhard (Sophomore, Forward, San Diego, Calif.)

  • Bailey Barnhard is shot 48% from the field and 49% (14-for-29) from three in conference play.

Kennedy Lee (RS Junior, Forward, Louisville, Ky.)

  • Kennedy Lee has two games this year making 5+ threes. Her seven made 3-pointers vs. CSUN tied for the second most ever made by an Aztec.

Postseason Notes

  • The Aztecs are 4-5 in non-NCAA tournament postseason play (1-2 in AIAW and 3-3 in the WNIT).
  • This is SDSU’s first appearance in the WBIT (3rd season).
  • The Aztecs last postseason win was March 20, 2013 over Santa Barbara in the first round of the WNIT.
  • SDSU is 4-4 in the postseason when playing in San Diego.

 

Opponent Notebook (UC Irvine)

  • The Anteaters are 26-6 and won a share of the Big West regular season championship with a 17-3 record.
  • Their 26 wins vs. DI opponents are a school record.
  • They lost in the Big West semifinals to No. 4 seed Hawai’i 67-63.
  • They are 10-4 on the road.
  • They are top 20 in the nation in free throws made per game (3rd, 17.4), free throw percentage (3rdm 80.4%), field goal percentage defense (35.8%, 13th), three-point percentage defense (16th, 26.9%), three-pointers per game (8.7, 17th) and turnovers per game (12.6, 18th).
  • Hunter Hernandez won Big West Player of the Year and set the program’s single-season scoring record.
  • Jada Wynn was named the Big West Newcomer of the Year. She averaged 15.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
  • Head coach Tamara Inoue (10th season) won Big West Coach of the Year.

 

Series History (UC Irvine)

  • San Diego State leads the all-time series 21-9.
  • Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson is 2-3 all-time vs. UCI.
  • The two teams last met in the 2023 WNIT, which UC Irvine won.

 

Trending...

  • The Aztecs haven’t lost two games in a row since Feb 8 and 12 of last season.
  • SDSU is 23-2 when they hold their opponent under 70 points. They have held their opponents under 40% shooting 19 times and are 19-0 in those games.
  • The Aztecs are 23-2 when they score 60 or more points. They are also 23-2 when they shoot at least 40% from the field.
  • SDSU is 22-1 when they have more assists than their opponent.
  • The Aztecs are 18-0 when they outrebound their opponent.
  • SDSU is 15-2 when they have more paint points than their opponent.
  • The Aztecs are 21-1 when they lead at halftime and are 5-0 in games decided by five points or less.
  • SDSU is 18-3 when they have fewer turnovers, or the same amount, as their opponent.
  • The Aztecs are averaging 70.6 points per game, which would be their most since the 1993-94 season. Four of SDSU’s top five scoring teams in the Mountain West era (since 1999) have been in the last four years.
  • SDSU is shooting 75.1% from the line this season. The Aztecs’ top three free throw percentages seasons have all come within the last three years
  • Since the beginning of last year, SDSU is 38-3 when three or more players score in double-digits (17-1 this year).
  • No Aztec averages more than 30 minutes per game and all five starters have had a game with 20 or more points. 10 different Aztecs have had a game with 10+ points.
  • Since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, the Aztecs are 82-12 (.872) when they score 60 or more (23-2 this year) and 53-7 (.883) when they score 70 or more (16-1 this year).
  • Since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, SDSU is 51-13 (.797) in home games (14-1 this year).

 

Aztec Notes

  • This is the second straight season SDSU has had 25 wins. It’s just the second time in school history that has occurred.
  • This is the fourth straight season the Aztecs have at least 20 wins and their 95 wins over the last four seasons is their most in a four-year span in program history.
  • Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Aztecs are 95-39 (.709) and they are 50-15 (.769) since the beginning of last year.
  • SDSU has beaten UNLV two times in each of the last two seasons. No other Mountain West team has ever beaten the Rebels twice in a season under head coach Lindy LaRocque (6th season).
  • This is the first time in program history SDSU didn’t return any scholarship upperclassman (who played last year). Six of the Aztecs’ nine rotation players are sophomores.
  • The Aztecs have seven newcomers this year, the most ever under head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson (13th season). They added five transfers with four of them coming from Mountain West schools.
  • SDSU has had a winning record in non-conference play in each of the last four years. Since the 2022-23 season, the Aztecs are 36-12 (.750) in non-conference games and 22-5 (.815) in non-conference home games.
  • The Aztecs set new program records for single game and season long attendance this season. It’s the third straight year SDSU has set a new attendance record.
  • SDSU has had a winning record in non-conference play in each of the last four years. Since the 2022-23 season, the Aztecs are 36-12 (.750) in non-conference games and 22-5 (.815) in non-conference home games.