SAN DIEGO – Behind a 31-point third quarter, San Diego State beat the North Texas Mean Green for their second straight double-digit win, 73-57. SDSU’s women’s basketball team (2-0) built on their blowout win on Monday evening against CSU Fullerton. North Texas (1-1) also dominated in their season opener and put up a fight against SDSU on Thursday afternoon. 

“What a great win against a very good North Texas team,” said head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson. “We really came to play today, and our toughness was on full display.”

The Aztecs also welcomed local schools for the Aztecs’ annual Field Trip Game. The game tipped off at 11 A.M., allowing students to attend as part of a school-day field trip. 

SDSU and North Texas appeared evenly matched to start the game. Both teams struggled from the field, and the Aztecs led by 1 after the first quarter. They continued to go back-and-forth during the second quarter and finished the half tied at 30 apiece. However, guard Natalia Martinez made all her second-quarter shots and led SDSU in scoring with 10 points going into halftime. 

“Natalia has been able to get us in a flow,” Terry-Hutson said. “She’s doing all the things we need from a point guard all while learning how to step into that role.”  

The Mean Green came out of the locker room with a burst of energy. North Texas started the third quarter on a 9-0 run, but the Aztecs responded by turning up the intensity on both ends of the floor. SDSU finished with 31 third-quarter points and held the Mean Green to zero field goals in the last eight minutes of the third quarter. 

SDSU’s offense settled in the fourth quarter as both teams combined for only 23 points.

Martinez played the whole second half and scored a career-high 25 points. She also drained five threes and had two steals on the afternoon. 

Freshman Dionne Madjo scored 15 points, collected nine rebounds and blocked three shots.

“Dionne is one of the most athletic kids we have, and she is incredibly strong and can dominate the glass on both ends,” Terry-Hutson said. “She just loves the game and works really hard.”

New Hampshire transfer Eva DeChent added 10 points while New Mexico transfer Nayli Padilla made her first start for SDSU, with a career-high eight rebounds.

The Aztecs will look to continue their early-season run this Sunday at 1 p.m. PT at home against University of Texas San Antonio.  They will celebrate their annual Hispanic Heritage Game. Purchase tickets here or stream the game on the Pac-12 YouTube channel. 

Top photo via Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State.