Good news continues for SDSU women, who win big after getting bigger

This has been a big week for the San Diego State women’s basketball program.

The Aztecs on Saturday afternoon defeated Cal State Bakersfield 78-48 at Viejas Arena for a third straight win since opening the season with a 77-53 loss to third-ranked UCLA.

Earlier in the week, the Aztecs signed two highly regarded 6-foot-3 high school post players.

And while not overly satisfied with her team’s performance Saturday, Aztec head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson saw much to like.

“We’re getting better and learning how to win,” said Terry-Hutson. “For the second game in a row, I don’t think we came out and played to the best of our ability in the first quarter. But we were able to bounce back. We didn’t shoot the ball the way we have been.

“But my questions for this team have been: Can we find ways to win when we’re not shooting at a high level? Can we find ways to win when things are not going our way? There was some adversity today. I was happy to see that we played through that, figured it out and were able to be successful.”

Bakersfield led 24-23 after the first quarter, but went nearly 20 minutes without a field goal while scoring 24 points over the final three quarters.

The Aztecs were led by senior transfer Nala Williams, who had her first Division I double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Williams was named the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year and Regional Defensive Player of the Year last season while at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The 5-foot-8 senior guard said she is still adjusting to Division I. And the biggest adjustment?

“All the resources we have at this level,” said Williams. “You have to learn how to use them … all the scouting information.”

Terry-Hutson called Williams “just the best person, a great human being. We’re so blessed that she’s on our team.”

Guards Naomi Panganiban and Nat Martinez, who were All-Freshman Team picks for the Aztecs in the Mountain West Conference last season, also contributed.

Panganiban, a product of La Jolla Country Day, who led the Philippines National Team in scoring last summer during the Asia Cup, scored 13 points despite early foul trouble. And Martinez had eight points and five assists. Sophomore forward Bailey Barnhard (Del Norte High) also scored eight points off a strong second half as 10 of 11 players on the Aztec roster scored.

But a third straight lopsided win was just part of the good news for the Aztecs this week. San Diego State, which lacks some of the inside presence of the 2024-2025 Mountain West Tournament champions, signed Mayenabasi Akpan from South Medford, Ore., and Mairead Hearty from Denver, Colo.

It’s the first time in Terry-Hutson’s 13 seasons that the Aztecs have signed multiple 6-foot-3 players out of high school in the same year.

“We’re excited about both these young ladies,” said Terry-Hutson. “One, because they are tall. They are totally different players. Akpan is an unbelievable athlete who is also an all-state volleyball player. Hearty has great footwork and can score in the post. I think both can impact our program in a great way.”