SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State women’s basketball team is gearing up for their final road game of the regular season as they face off against the Air Force Falcons on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. PT. The Aztecs are riding high after recently defeating San Jose State 82-60, marking their third consecutive win, all of which have been by 15 or more points. This impressive streak marks the first time SDSU has achieved such dominance during Mountain West play since the 2012-13 season.
One of the standout statistics from their recent game was the team's remarkable free throw shooting. Against San Jose State, the Aztecs excelled by going 24-for-26 from the line, resulting in a 92.3% shooting percentage. This achievement not only exemplifies their skill but also sets the benchmark as their best free throw percentage during the Mountain West era, which spans 26 years. With two games left to play, SDSU now holds a season average of 75.3% from the charity stripe, placing them second on the school's all-time free throw shooting list.
Currently, the Aztecs sit 5th place in the Mountain West with a conference record of 9-7. The top five teams receive first-round byes, and heading to Air Force at 9-3 on the road adds to the pressure. This is the highest number of road wins for the Aztecs since the 2012-13 season when they secured 10. With their current road win percentage hitting .750, they are on track to have their best performance away from home since the 1996-97 season.
Defensively, SDSU has the best performance statistics among Mountain West teams. They rank first for the lowest three-point shooting percentage allowed at 29.0% and second for the lowest field goal percentage allowed at 38.8%. Their defensive prowess continues with allowing the fewest points per game at 60.3 and being ranked third for turnovers forced with 16.5 per game. The Aztecs have held opponents under 60 points 13 times this season, with only one loss (12-1 record) when achieving this.
Offensively, the Aztecs are averaging 69.4 points per game, their highest average since the 1994-95 season. Their ability to get to the free-throw line has proven advantageous; they lead the Mountain West with 12.5 made free throws per game and are 13-1 when they outperform opponents at the line.
Looking toward individual efforts, Naomi Panganiban has recently impressed, earning her third Mountain West Freshman of the Week award after averaging 13 points on 53% shooting last week. Nat Martinez has also made headlines, with predictions of her winning the Mountain West Freshman of the Year accolade. She is shooting 45.1% from three-point range this season, adding depth to the Aztecs' sharpshooting capabilities.
Veteran playmakers such as Kim Villalobos are showcasing impressive career numbers. She is close to surpassing SDSU legend Tina Hutchinson’s 1,256 career points, currently holding 1,254. Villalobos is also recognized for being one of the nation's standout players, achieving over 1,200 points, 750 rebounds, 200 assists, 175 steals, and 100 blocks during her career.
Veronica Sheffey is another rising star, averaging 12.6 points per game within conference play and recently having three blocks against San Jose State – her highest as an Aztec. Sheffey's performance has been pivotal, scoring in double digits 17 times this season.
Erin Houpt has made waves with her impressive shooting stats, being the only player nationally to maintain both at least 40% from three-point range and 90% free throw shooting throughout her career. This season, Houpt is shooting 47.6% from beyond the arc, which could set the school's record with the minimum attempts required.
This season marks SDSU’s first and only regular-season meeting against the Air Force Falcons, against whom they hold the all-time series lead at 39-16. Despite this, the Aztecs will need to be mindful as they have lost their last four games at Air Force. The Falcons, with their current 16-11 record and 6-9 conference standing, possess dynamic players like Milahnie Perry, who leads Air Force with 15.5 points per game.
The upcoming game will be broadcast live with coverage by XtraSports AM 1300, featuring Ryan Kaufman on the call. Fans can catch stats and updates via StatBroadcast. For those attending the game, there are access requirements and precautions due to the U.S. Air Force Academy policies.
The Aztecs are poised to make their mark as they finish strong this season. With key players stepping up, both offensively and defensively, hopes are high for their performance against Air Force and their subsequent push toward postseason play.