Mercedes Staples Season 2020-21

Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (2020-21, 2021-22 & 2022-23)
Mountain West All-Academic Team (2020-21, 2021-22 & 2022-23)

2022-23 Season
Averaged 10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 45.5 percent from three, which was a school record and fifth in the nation… Finished her SDSU career with a three-point percentage of 41.0, also a school record… Was second in the Mountain West with 2.26 made threes per game… Scored in double-digits in 16 games and led SDSU in scoring eight times… Had 20 points against Portland (11-18-22) and Sacramento State (12-7-22)… Was a perfect 6-for-6 from three vs. Southeastern Louisiana (11-15-22)… Had seven games with four or more made threes… Averaged 31.4 minutes per game and had 12 games with 35 or more minutes… Missed seven games due to injury… Participated in the College Three-Point Contest at the Men’s Final Four after the season.

2021-22 Season
Started 28 games and averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists… Set career-highs in field goal (.428) and three-point percentage (.392)… Scored in double-digits 16 times and topped 20 points on three occasions… Scored a season-high 21 points vs. Fresno State (2-19-22)… Had 20 points behind 6-of-9 shooting from three against Furman… Tied a career-high with six assists against San Jose State (2-16-22)… Ended year with a 37.7 career three-point percentage as an Aztec, the fifth best in program history… Averaged a career-high 33.8 minutes per game, the second most on the team… Played in 30 or more minutes in all but four games.

2020-21 Season
The only Aztec to start all 24 games, Staples averaged 11.5 points, a team-high 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists… Led the team with 29 made three-pointers while shooting 35.8 percent from deep… Scored in double-figures 13 times, tied for the team lead… Had three double-doubles and four games with 10 or more rebounds… Led the Aztecs in rebounding 13 times and in scoring eight times… Scored 20 or more points three times… Scored a career-high 24 points in back-to-back games… Second on the team in minutes per game (32.7)… Shot 82.1 percent from the free throw line (32-39)… Second on the team in assists (49) and steals (22).

At Minnesota (2018-19)
Staples appeared in 25 games and made two starts for the Golden Gophers as a freshman (2018-19) while averaging 3.4 points in 14.8 minutes… Had the best game of her career against Northern Iowa in the 2019 WNIT when she made four three-pointers, scored 14 points and dished out six assists… She appeared in eight games (one start) as a sophomore (2019-20) before deciding to transfer… Averaged 14.2 minutes, 2.6 points and 1.1 rebounds.

At Viewmont High School
A four-star 2018 recruit out of Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah, Staples was ranked as the No. 64 player in the country by ESPN.com… As a senior, averaged 22.4 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals and helped her school reach the Class 5A quarterfinals... After the season was named a First Team All-State selection by the Salt Lake Tribune… Staples was a starter on varsity all four years and increased her scoring average from 11.8 points per game as a freshman to 16.6 as a sophomore and 18.1 as a junior…. Was a three-time Class 5A All-State selection… Helped Viewmont High School reach the state championship game as a junior… Was recruited by LSU, Kansas State, Missouri, Clemson, Utah and Texas Tech before deciding to attend Minnesota… Also played soccer for two seasons as a center midfielder.

Personal
Born in Salt Lake City to Janet and Darin Staples… Hopes to be a coach when her playing career is over… Lists Diana Taurasi as her favorite player... Graduated in the spring of 2022 with a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies and is now working on a master of arts in liberal arts and sciences.