FORT COLLINS, Colo. – San Diego State’s women’s basketball team (16-3, 10-0 MW) earned a gritty 46-44 road win over Colorado State (17-5, 8-3 MW) on Wednesday morning, matching the program’s best start since the 1993-94 season.
Given both the opponent and the way the game unfolded, it was a statement victory for the Aztecs. The Rams entered the matchup ranked third in the Mountain West, riding three straight double-digit wins, and boasting the league’s toughest defense.
SDSU arrived in Fort Collins with well-earned confidence. Over the previous six games, the Aztecs averaged 79 points per contest, shooting 43.3 percent from three while making 10.8 threes per game. On Saturday, they posted a season-high 94 points and knocked down 14 three-pointers. On Wednesday, however, SDSU scored just 46 points, the fewest in program history in a win.
SDSU went into Wednesday’s matchup with well-earned confidence. Over the previous six games, the team had averaged 79 points, making 10.8 threes per game on 43.3% 3-point shooting. On Saturday, the team went even further, scoring a season-high 94 points and making 14 threes. The 46 points were the fewest the Aztecs have ever scored, and won the game.
Wednesday’s game started well enough, with the Aztecs going on a 10-1 run in the first quarter. The Aztecs’ defense, led guard Kaelyn Hamilton, dominated and held Colorado State to three points in the first quarter.
“Kaelyn is tough as nails,” said head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson. “She can guard anybody out there and she was locked in defensively today.”
However, SDSU only managed 14 points in the first quarter and cooled off even more in the second, scoring only four points. The Rams were able to cut the Aztecs’ lead to four at halftime, 18-14.
"Colorado State is the best defensive team in the league, so I was really excited that we were able to defend at a high level to give us a chance to win," said Terry-Hutson. "We didn't play the kind of game we've been used to playing, didn't score in transition, didn't make a three. So it was really important that we found another way to win. Not only are we finding another way to win, other people are stepping up in those moments, so our depth is coming into play."
The game remained tight throughout the second half. Colorado State managed to take the lead with about four minutes left.
SDSU answered with a 10-0 run, but struggled to make free throws down the stretch, going 6-for-12 from the line in the fourth quarter and finishing 12-for-21 overall (57.1 percent), well below their season average of 73.3 percent. The misses gave the Rams an opportunity to tie or win the game with 3.5 seconds left, but guard Nat Martinez forced a turnover that sealed the win for the Aztecs.
Game Highlights. SDSU Athletics
"We could defend when it matters," said Martinez. She noted the versatility of the team in finding ways to win beyond shooting the three, adding that they can score in the paint as well.
The defense was the story of the game for the Aztecs. They held the Rams to a season-low 30.5 percent from the field and outrebounded them 51 to 30. The Aztecs’ 51 rebounds were well above their season per-game average of 37.4.
On the flip side, SDSU went 0-for-12 from the 3-point-line, winning a game without making a three-point shot for the first time since 2015. “It was an ugly win,” Terry-Hutson said. “When you can win on the road at altitude in this conference against a very good team, we’re going to take some positives away from that.”
Terry-Hutson often refers to her bench players as game changers, and they were on Wednesday. Hamilton scored a season-high 15 points while Alyssa Jackson pulled in 11 rebounds.
Next Up
SDSU’s womens basketball team will look to extend their win streak on Saturday against Nevada. The game tips off at 1 p.m. PST and will be streaming on the Mountain West Network. Purchase tickets to Saturday’s game here. All kids in grades 8 and under attend for free.
