San Diego Women’s Basketball Triumphs: SDSU and USD Victorious

The holiday season brought a series of thrilling basketball games for San Diego’s NCAA Division I women’s teams. San Diego State University (SDSU), the University of San Diego (USD), and UC San Diego (UCSD) all showcased their talents in their final pre-Christmas appearances on their home courts.

SDSU and USD picked up wins, while UCSD fought hard but came up short. The local college basketball scene is definitely heating up.

SDSU’s Dominant Performance Against Boise State

San Diego State University’s women’s basketball team delivered an impressive 83-54 victory over Boise State in a Mountain West Conference game at Viejas Arena. Coach Stacie Terry-Hutson admitted the team hasn’t played a truly complete game this season, but said they came pretty close on Saturday.

Key Highlights from the Game

The Aztecs started strong, hitting seven of their first ten 3-point attempts. They also outrebounded the taller Broncos 15-6 in the second quarter.

By halftime, SDSU led 50-24. That kind of dominance isn’t easy to come by.

This win put their record at 8-3 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

• Naomi Panganiban led the team with 18 points, including 10 in the first quarter.
• Kennedy Lee contributed 16 points and five rebounds.
• Freshman guard Kendall Mosley came off the bench to score 11 points, going 3 for 3 from beyond the arc.
• Bailey Barnhard added nine points and five rebounds.
• Maria Konstantinidou had seven rebounds in just 14 ½ minutes of play.

Coach Terry-Hutson praised the team’s rebounding and defense, pointing out how they managed to neutralize Boise State’s size advantage. She also liked seeing the reserves get solid minutes, figuring that depth will matter as the season goes on.

USD Toreros Edge Out Cal State Fullerton

The University of San Diego’s women’s basketball team squeezed out a 56-55 victory over Cal State Fullerton at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Olivia Owens came up big, sinking a tie-breaking 3-pointer with just 45 seconds left.

Standout Performances

Owens led the Toreros with 13 points, nine rebounds, and three steals while playing 38 minutes. The Rhodes twins, Hallie and Jayden, chipped in 12 and eight points.

Jayden’s back-to-back threes in the second quarter gave USD their first lead. They managed to hold onto it for the rest of the game.

• Olivia Owens: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals
• Hallie Rhodes: 12 points
• Jayden Rhodes: 8 points

Fullerton tied the game twice in the fourth quarter, but USD showed some real grit to grab their second straight win. Their record now sits at 6-7.

UCSD’s Close Battle with Northern Arizona

UC San Diego’s women’s basketball team ran into a tough challenge against Northern Arizona, falling just short with a 71-68 loss at LionTree Arena. Even in defeat, the Tritons showed a lot of fight, nearly clawing back from a big halftime deficit.

Game Recap

UCSD trailed 45-27 at halftime. They came out after the break and outscored Northern Arizona 19-4 in the third quarter.

The Tritons managed to tie it up at 65-65 with just 1:27 left. That kind of comeback takes guts.

• Erin Condron: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Makayla Rose: 14 points
• Dymonique Maxie: 14 points, 6 assists, 3 steals
• Sabrina Ma: 12 points

UCSD struggled with their 3-point shooting, hitting just 5 of 23 attempts (around 21.7%). Their record drops to 6-5, but honestly, the effort and determination were obvious all game long.

Looking Ahead

As the season goes on, all three San Diego teams want to build on what they’ve started. SDSU’s deep bench and tough defense could really make a difference.

USD seems to have a knack for clutch moments. UCSD keeps showing a lot of grit when things get tough.

If you want more details about these games or other local sports, check out the San Diego Union-Tribune.

We’ll keep following San Diego’s college hoops as the season keeps rolling. Who knows what twists are next?