San Diego State women’s basketball opened its 2025–26 season on Monday night with a challenging matchup against one of the nation’s elite teams, ultimately falling 77–53 to No. 3 UCLA at the Orange County Hoops Classic in Anaheim. The game served as both a learning experience and an early gauge of where the Aztecs stand against top-tier competition, as the Bruins entered the season fresh off a Final Four appearance.

Despite the loss, the Aztecs showed several encouraging signs, particularly from beyond the arc. San Diego State hit 10 of 25 three-point attempts, outperforming UCLA from long range and keeping the score close early. Guard Kaelyn Hamilton led the Aztecs with 11 points, while Nat Martinez and Nala Williams each contributed 10, showcasing the team’s balanced scoring potential.

Where San Diego State ran into trouble was inside the paint. UCLA’s overwhelming size and physicality proved too much to overcome, led by 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, a dominant force projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The Bruins controlled the boards and used a third-quarter surge to pull away for good, outmuscling the Aztecs on both ends of the floor.

The setback marked the Aztecs’ seventh straight loss to UCLA, but there was plenty for head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson to build on as her squad continues to develop chemistry and confidence early in the season.

“I thought we played really, really hard,” Terry-Hutson said. “There were a couple of moments we got knocked down, and our testament of our team was, How are we going to be when we get knocked down? We came back up.”

San Diego State will look to regroup and pick up its first win of the season when it returns home to Viejas Arena to face Cal State San Marcos on Friday, November 8. The Aztecs will aim to use the home opener to build momentum, as they look to defend their Mountain West title in what will be their final season in the conference

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