SAN DIEGO – Juniors Natalia Martinez and Bailey Barnhard were named to the Pac-12 Preseason Impact List, the conference office announced Thursday afternoon. Additionally, the Aztecs were picked to finish third in the Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll.
Martinez (San Leandro, Calif.) has started 50 games across her first two seasons on The Mesa. Last season, she averaged 9.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making 51 three-pointers. She enters the season third in school history in career three-point percentage (38.3%).
Barnhard, a San Diego native, came on strong in the second half of last season, shooting 48.3% from both the field and from three in conference play. On the year she averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds while starting every game.
SDSU won 27 games last season, tying a school record, and went 19-1 in Mountain West play to win the regular season championship.
The Aztecs have won 20+ games in four straight seasons, and most the postseason in three of those seasons. Their 97 wins over that span are the most across four years in program history.
Last year SDSU set school records for three-point percentage (36.2%), three-pointers (8.5/game), turnovers per game (12.6) and free throw percentage (76.7%). They scored 70.1 points per game their most since the 1993-94 season and had their best field goal percentage (44.2%) in 15 years.
The Aztecs, who are in their first year in the Pac-12, were picked to finish behind Gonzaga and Oregon State, who both also made the postseason last year.
The Preseason Media Poll was voted on by a panel of league media, while the Impact List was selected by the league's nine head coaches.
Pac-12 Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
1. Gonzaga
2. Oregon State
3. San Diego State
4. Colorado State
5. Boise State
6. Washington State
7. Fresno State
8. Texas State
9. Utah State
Impact List
Boise State - F Libby Hutton, G CJ Latta
Colorado State - G Kloe Froebe, G Camryn Runner
Fresno State - G Lola Donez, F Ashlyn Rean
Gonzaga - G Allie Turner, F Lauren Whittaker
Oregon State - G Kennedie Shuler, G Jenna Villa
San Diego State - G Natalia Martinez, F Bailey Barnhard
Texas State - G Saniya Burks, G Crystal Henderson
Utah State - G Aaliyah Gayles, G Lisa Thompson
Washington State - G Eleonora Villa, C Alex Covill