The San Diego State Aztecs women's basketball stormed into Reno and delivered a statement win, rolling past the Nevada Wolf Pack 78–64 to secure their 20th victory of the season.
SDSU (20-4, 14-1 MW) led by as many as 37 in the third quarter, dominating from the jump and turning the game into a runaway before Nevada trimmed the margin late against the Aztec bench. Through three quarters, the Aztecs were scorching at 55% shooting while suffocating Nevada to just 30%.
The team’s depth was on full display. Five players hit double figures, and another came within one point. Kennedy Lee and Maria Konstantinidou led with 12 each, with Konstantinidou going a perfect 6-for-6 for a season high. Naomi Panganiban, Kaelyn Hamilton, and Nala Williams added 10 apiece. Williams has 1,700 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 440 steals in her career. Bailey Barnhard chipped in nine points and a career-best four assists.
Seven different Aztecs scored in the opening quarter as SDSU grabbed control early. A 14–2 burst to start the second quarter blew the doors open, and Nevada managed just seven points in the period.
SDSU coughed up only one turnover in the first half and three through three quarters while pushing the lead to 37. Six Aztecs hit at least one of the team’s eight threes made in the first three quarters, shooting 40% outside the arc.
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With the starters resting in the fourth, Nevada made a late push, outscoring SDSU 29–9, but the result was never in doubt.
But even with a blowout on the scoreboard, the Aztecs weren’t satisfied. Letting the lead shrink in the final minutes left a reminder that their standards are higher than just winning games. This is a team chasing something bigger. They are clearly pushing for greatness, eyeing a historic season, and setting sights on more than simply claiming a Mountain West title.
“I’m proud of how we’ve competed on the road this year,” head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said. “We’ve been consistent away from home, and for about 30 minutes today we played some really strong basketball.”
The Aztecs now hold their fate firmly in their own hands in the Mountain West race. With March approaching, SDSU is chasing not just a conference title, but history. They have a chance to surpass the program’s 15–1 league mark from 2012–13 and cap one of the most dominant conference runs the program has ever seen.
