SAN DIEGO — San Diego State women’s basketball continues to roll. Behind a 24-point, career-high performance from senior transfer Kennedy Lee, the Aztecs notched their second consecutive dominant victory, defeating CSU Northridge 91–70. The win follows a 60-point rout of CSU San Marcos and marks the first time since the 1991–92 season that SDSU has scored 90 or more points in back-to-back games.
The Aztecs’ hot shooting came after a slow start. CSU Northridge entered the game undefeated and looked confident early, shooting 44% from the field and leading 19–13 with 1:41 left in the first quarter. SDSU, however, stayed within striking distance thanks to their work at the free-throw line and a clutch three-pointer from Bailey Barnhard that cut the deficit to two by the end of the period.
That spark lit the fuse. From the end of the first through three minutes into the second quarter, the Aztecs erupted with an 18–0 run, fueled by three threes from Lee and strong play from Nala Williams, a Division II transfer who has quickly become a two-way force for SDSU.
“We are a much-improved shooting team from top to bottom this year,” said head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson.
By halftime, the Aztecs had turned the game on its head, and they never looked back. Across the second and third quarters, SDSU shot a blistering 57% from the field and 52% from beyond the arc, outscoring CSUN 65–26.
Lee’s stat line was as efficient as it was explosive, with 24 points in just 20 minutes, hitting seven three-pointers (tied for second-most in program history), along with five rebounds, three steals, and an assist.
“At one point I didn’t think that I would play basketball again,” Lee said, reflecting on her recovery from an injury at Nevada. “Coming here, the coaches and my teammates just have poured so much love into me and so much encouragement. … It’s really an amazing thing to be a part of.”
Terry-Hutson praised Lee’s defensive impact and how her outside shooting has expanded the Aztecs’ offense.
“What she really does well is she defends at a high level and separates herself there,” Terry-Hutson said. “With the addition to her being able to shoot the ball, I think not only does it help her offensive game, but it’s going to help the overall game of all of the Aztecs.”
The game plan was deliberate. Anticipating that CSUN’s defense would sag inside to protect against SDSU’s quick guards, the Aztecs practiced “pick and pop” sets where Lee set screens and drifted to the perimeter. The result: seven triples, each one a dagger.
While Lee’s sharpshooting drew headlines, Williams once again showcased her all-around game. The transfer guard went 8-for-10 from the field, finishing with 19 points, six assists, five steals, and three rebounds. Her impact went beyond scoring. She created opportunities for teammates and locked down defensively.
“She does a little bit of everything for us,” said Terry-Hutson. “She’s our best defender. She guards one of the best guards on the floor all the time. She is our playmaker. She is a scorer for us. She does a little bit of everything, and she does it with a smile on her face.”
The Aztecs finished the night with 18 assists, a testament to the unselfish, fast-paced style that has defined their early-season success.
“When we share the ball and get the extra pass, which you saw many times tonight, that’s when we’re at our best and playing a good brand of basketball that everybody wants to watch,” Terry-Hutson said.
SDSU improves to 2–1 on the season and looks every bit like a team finding its rhythm early: confident, balanced, and, for the first time in decades, consistently explosive.
Final: SDSU 91, CSU Northridge 70
Notable
Of SDSU’s 18 assists; eight players recorded at least one.
Ten Aztecs scored, with three in double figures: Lee (24), Williams (19), and Naomi Panganiban (15).
The Aztecs have hit 10 or more threes in all three games this season, a mark they reached only four times across 35 games last year.
Eleven players played 10 or more minutes.
SDSU’s seven newcomers this year represent the most ever under Terry-Hutson (13th season), including four transfers from Mountain West programs.