SAN DIEGO — On a night built for urgency, poise, and Mountain West stakes, San Diego State didn’t just rise to the moment. They seized it. In front of 2,135 fans at Viejas Arena, the Aztecs delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, overpowering UNLV 80–62 in a matchup between the conference’s top two teams.
Every SDSU starter finished in double figures, a testament to the balance head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson has been preaching all year. “I think we’re better when we share,” she said afterward. “This is the second game in a row that we’ve had five people end in double digits… it really makes it challenging to guard us.”
It was also a milestone night: the win marked Terry-Hutson’s 200th career victory, a moment she celebrated by pointing back to her players and the crowd. “It was so loud and it means a lot to me,” she said. “These young ladies work really, really hard every day and they deserve that support.”
What unfolded on the court was fast, physical, and relentless, exactly the kind of game SDSU has been built for. It was an amazing performance of athleticism and skill.
The opening minutes felt like two heavyweights testing each other’s chin. SDSU struck first with a free throw from Naomi Panganiban, but UNLV answered with pressure and offensive rebounding.
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Bailey Barnhard set the tone early, knocking down a three to push SDSU ahead 7–2 . The Aztecs’ defense tightened, forcing turnovers and limiting UNLV to 14 points. By the end of the quarter, SDSU held a narrow 16–14 edge, a small lead, but one earned through grit.
Naomi Panganiban stretches above the defense and scored 20 on the night. Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State
Bailey Barnhard hits the three, with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State
The pace accelerated, and so did the Aztecs’ offense. Kennedy Lee’s three at 9:05 put SDSU up 19–16 , and from there the scoring began to flow.
Panganiban, who finished with 20 points, hit a smooth jumper at the 8:00 mark and added a free throw to complete the three-point play. Nat Martinez and Barnhard each knocked down threes late in the quarter, helping SDSU close the half on a 7–2 run.
The Aztecs entered halftime up 38–35, and Terry-Hutson later revealed the message in the locker room: “We talk a lot about … going from good to great.”
UNLV opened the half with a three to tie the game at 38–38 , but SDSU refused to let momentum slip. Nala Williams answered with a layup at 7:56, and Barnhard drilled a three at 7:14 to push the lead to 43–39 .
Still, UNLV kept clawing back. The Rebels tied the game twice and cut the lead to one possession multiple times, but SDSU’s composure held. Martinez’s layup at 3:12 and Williams’ three at 2:36 gave the Aztecs breathing room, and by the end of the quarter, SDSU led 55–51.
Nat Martinez scores 13 against UNLV. Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State
If the first three quarters were a battle, the fourth was a declaration.
Panganiban opened the period with a layup at 9:45, followed by a Lee three at 9:11 to stretch the lead to 60–51 . From there, SDSU’s defense suffocated UNLV, holding the Rebels to just 11 points in the final frame.
Lee dominated the glass, finishing with 10 rebounds, while Williams added 11 boards of her own. The Aztecs’ physicality wore UNLV down possession by possession.
Panganiban, still buzzing with adrenaline afterward, said, “Fourth quarter is always crucial… we know we have to come out with our best and give it all we’ve got, and I think that we did that today.”
SDSU outscored UNLV 25–11 in the final period, punctuated by a Martinez three at 3:35 and a Barnhard turnaround jumper with nine seconds left to seal the 80–62 victory .
Five starters in double figures. Forty-six rebounds. Seventeen points off turnovers. A fourth quarter that looked like a team stepping fully into its identity, with the confidence of a team that’s been dominating all season.
Nala Williams finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State
After the game, Panganiban reflected on the bigger picture, “staying focused on our goal, which is a regular-season championship.”
Terry-Hutson echoed that focus. “We’re trying to keep the main thing the main thing and we’re only looking forward to the next opponent.”
SDSU returns to Viejas Arena this Saturday to host Fresno State in its annual Black History Month game, a night that always carries meaning, energy, and community pride.
If Wednesday’s performance is any indication, the Aztecs are not just chasing wins. They’re building momentum, sharpening their identity, and playing some of their best basketball at exactly the right time.
Opening Photo: Kennedy Lee and Nat Martinez were part of the Aztecs’ smothering defense against UNLV. Lee finished with 16 points and 10 boards. Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State
