Women's Basketball

Aztecs Playing at Kansas Thursday in WBIT Quarterfinals

The No. 4 seed Aztecs play at No. 2 Kansas in the WBIT Quarterfinals Thursday at 4:30 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and Chris Ello will have the call on the Aztec Radio Network.

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Aztecs Playing at Kansas Thursday in WBIT QuarterfinalsAztecs Playing at Kansas Thursday in WBIT Quarterfinals

SAN DIEGO – The No. 4 seed Aztecs play at No. 2 Kansas in the WBIT Quarterfinals Thursday at 4:30 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and Chris Ello will have the call on the Aztec Radio Network.

 

Aztec Notes

  • This is a quad two game for SDSU. The Aztecs are 2-0 in quad two games and have won their last seven games that are against quad 1-3 opponents.
  • If SDSU wins at No. 2 Kansas they will play the winner of No. 1 BYU and No. 2 Stanford in the WBIT Final Four in Wichita, Kan on March 30.
  • SDSU beat McNeese 56-41 in the WBIT second round Sunday. The Aztecs held the Cowgirls to 29% shooting and just one three-pointer.
  • The Aztecs have 27 wins, tied for the most in school history.
  • This is the third time in the last four seasons SDSU has made the postseason (WNIT 2023, NCAA 2025, WBIT 2026). This is the 15th postseason appearance overall for the Aztecs.
  • SDSU won the Mountain West regular season championship outright. This was SDSU’s seventh regular season championship (fourth in the MW) and first since 2012-13. The Aztecs won the Mountain West Tournament championship last season.
  • The Aztecs have won 23 of their last 25 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 12.7 turnovers per game, which would be a school record and is 19th in the country. Their assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.08 would be the program’s best since the 1983-84 season.
  • The Aztecs are averaging 69.9 points per game, which would be the highest since the 1993-94 season. SDSU is shooting 49.3% on two-pointers, also their best since 1993-94.
  • SDSU is making 8.4 three-pointers per game and shooting 36.0% 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 27 of their 32 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 is also on pace to set a school record for free throw percentage (76.1%). They were a perfect 25-for-25 from the line in the first two WBIT games.
  • 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.

 

Player Notes

Naomi Panganiban (Sophomore, Guard, San Diego, Calif.)

All-Mountain West Team

  • Naomi Panganiban is averaging 19.2 points per game over her last six games.
  • She has scored 10+ points in 25 of SDSU’s 32 games and in 12 of her last 13. She has seven 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 highest ever by an Aztec in the Mountain West Tournament and she became the first Aztec ever to have at least 29 points and six assists in a game in the Mountain West era (since 1999).
  • Her 20.1 points per 40 minutes is 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 2.38 is the best by an Aztec in the Mountain West era (since 1999) and is 12th in the nation among qualified players.
  • In her career, she has 1,788 points, 641 rebounds, 464 assists and 356 steals in 123 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 41% from three in conference play.
  • Her 356 career steals are the ninth most in the nation across all divisions among active players. She ranks 19th in steals per game (2.9) for a career.
  • She has scored double digits in 91 of her 123 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 10.0 points per game over the last 13 games while setting a new career-high for points three times.
  • Her 7.4 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 set career-highs for rebounds (9) and assists (5) vs. UC Irvine in the first round of the WBIT Thursday.
  • She 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 6-5 in non-NCAA tournament postseason play (1-2 AIAW, 3-3 WNIT, 2-0 WBIT).
  • This is SDSU’s first appearance in the WBIT (3rd season).
  • Prior to this season the Aztecs last postseason win was March 20, 2013, over Santa Barbara in the first round of the WNIT.
  • SDSU is 5-12 in the postseason when playing on the road (3-4 in non-NCAA Tournament events).

 

Opponent Notebook (Kansas)

  • The Jayhawks are 21-13 and went 8-10 in the Big 12.
  • They are 14-4 at home.
  • They beat Troy (79-70) and No. 3 Rice (62-55) in their first two WBIT games.
  • They are No. 50 in the NET.
  • They are 12th in the nation with a 47.4% field goal percentage.
  • They make 15.1 free throws per game, the most in the Big 12.
  • Freshman Jaliua Davis leads the team in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game while shooting 61.8% from the floor.
  • S’Mya Nichols leads the team in scoring (17.5) and has made and attempted the most free throws in the nation (233-275, 84.7%)
  • Ellie Evans shoots 45.9% from three, third in the nation.
  • Head coach Brandon Schneider (11th season) has led the Jayhawks to the postseason in four of the past five years.
  • The Aztecs have played Kansas twice before. SDSU won 76-63 Dec. 20, in San Diego and then lost 71-45 Dec. 28, 2004 at Kansas.
  • SDSU is 66-98 against teams currently in the Big 12 with 60 of those meetings coming against former Mountain West teams (BYU, TCU and Utah). The Aztecs won at Kansas State 64-53 earlier this season.

 

Trending...

  • SDSU is 25-2 when they hold their opponent under 70 points. They have held their opponents under 40% shooting 21 times and are 21-0 in those games.
  • The Aztecs are 24-2 when they score 60 or more points. They are also 25-2 when they shoot at least 40% from the field.
  • SDSU is 24-1 when they have more assists than their opponent.
  • The Aztecs are 20-0 when they outrebound their opponent.
  • SDSU is 15-2 when they have more paint points than their opponent.
  • The Aztecs are 23-1 when they lead at halftime and are 5-0 in games decided by five points or less.
  • SDSU is 19-3 when they have fewer turnovers, or the same amount, as their opponent.
  • The Aztecs are averaging 69.9 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 76.1% from the line this season, which would be a school record. The Aztecs’ top three free throw percentages seasons all-time 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 83-12 (.874) when they score 60 or more (24-2 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 53-13 (.803) in home games (16-1 this year).
  • The Aztecs haven’t lost two games in a row since Feb 8 and 12 of last season.

 

Aztec Tidbits

  • SDSU has tied a school record with 27 wins, and this is the second straight season SDSU has had at least 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. They currently have the most wins in a two-year span (52), three-year span (74) and four-year span (97) in program history.
  • Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Aztecs are 97-39 (.713) and they are 52-15 (.776) since the beginning of last year.
  • Four starters (Barnhard, Lee, Martinez, Lee) were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for having a 3.50 cumulative GPA or better.
  • SDSU is one of three mid-major programs remaining in the WBIT field and the only non-Ivy league school.
  • The Aztecs have used the same starting lineup in every game but one this season.
  • 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.