San Diego State wins Mountain West Tournament Championship—Women’s program headed back to the big dance

Take a bow Coach Stacie Terry-Hutson—your Aztecs are champions of the Mountain West. Your San Diego State women’s basketball team is going to the big dance. For the first time since the 2012-2013 season SDSU has earned themselves a spot in the NCAA tournament.

The Aztecs defeated the Wyoming Cowgirls 72-68 in a thrilling triple-overtime winner at the Mountain West Championship game in Las Vegas, Nevada Wednesday night. The game was just how we’ve come to expect for this women’s program—not easy.

It was a neck and neck battle the whole game through with numerous ties and lead changes on it’s way to becoming the first Division I conference final to endure three overtimes since 2013.

A lot of credit for that unfortunately has to go to Wyoming. The Cowgirls were absolutely relentless—coming up clutch every time the Aztecs seemed to take control each overtime session. The Aztecs biggest lead on the night could only reach 5 points, as the pesky Cowgirls would force their hand.

But it was the #4 seeded Aztecs who kept their determination that truly made them champions.

Veronica Sheffey’s 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists won the MVP of the game. It was clutch shooting and her free throws that sealed the win in the games final moments. Her tremendous mid range has made her an important asset to this title run and getting to the line 10 times for 9 free throws really showed her veteran leadership.

Going up against Wyoming’s center Allyson Fertig is a chore and a half, but Cali Clark was able to rise to the occasion in that duty. Scoring 12 points, 17 big rebounds, and 6 steals—Clark was as solid as a rock on the defensive side standing her ground and forcing turnovers in the paint.

Naomi Panganiban’s 17 points were electric as always, showing her tremendous quickness and basketball IQ. The stage has never been too big for Naomi and this game proved it.

Senior Kim Villalobos’ 11 points and 9 rebounds took a minute to catch on in this game. But when Kim got on a roll finding her opportunities with each overtime, she was tough to stop down in the paint.

It was a total team victory by a resilient group of Aztecs. But watching this game from the stands with so many other Aztec faithful was pure joy. Joy for the girls who have finally made it to the mountain top.

But this win is huge, especially for coach Stacy Terry-Hutston and her tremendous staff. This SDSU women’s program has ascended each year, working diligently to improve in areas needed.

“We Over Me, that’s been our motto all year and I thought that held true today.” Coach Stacie

Every year the higher expectations had been set—every year the program just continues to chip away, and chip away, and chip away some more.

When progress was not as quickly visible as some may have wanted this program did not buckle under the weight of it all. They’ve adjusted to the changes in the college sports landscape and with the support of each other, their team, and all the SDSU community have stayed positive that this night was sure to come.

The immense passion that it takes to win a championship at the D1 level has to be something shared from top to bottom. The SDSU women’s basketball team has that passion in their DNA.

With this championship victory they can now wave that banner proudly for all to see —while knowing the journey has the potential to continue upwards.

Up next: With their ticket punched, SDSU awaits their place in the official bracket of the NCAA tournament this Selection Sunday, March 16th. Stay tuned.