Zalia Haskins
Contributing Writer
SAN DIEGO—The San Diego State women’s basketball team continued their dominance of the Mountain West Conference on Saturday. The Aztecs celebrated Senior Night at Viejas with a 70-51 victory over Wyoming, adding to their regular-season title streak.
San Diego State didn’t have the best start; the first few minutes were rough and sloppy for both sides, but the Aztecs found the spark that lead them to victory. Once they did find it the Aztecs went 7 for 16 in the first quarter, with Kaelyn Hamilton coming off the bench and scoring eight consecutive points to fuel a 14-0 rally in the last three minutes. That run turned the struggle into an advantage, giving SDSU a 20-11 lead after the first quarter.
Hamilton scored the opening two points of the second quarter, and both teams were scoreless for nearly 2-3 minutes, but SDSU never gave up the lead. The Aztecs increased their score to their largest of the half at 21, going into halftime up 40-21.
The defense set the tone; Wyoming had 14 turnovers before halftime, and Nala Williams added momentum late in the half with steals that led to easy baskets. On the Cowgirls’ side, freshman Jade Rumpf led the way early, with nine points at halftime.
SDSU returned from the locker room eager to add on. Nat Martinez immediately made a step-back jumper, and Hamilton went on to score a career-high 18 points to lead the Aztecs.
Wyoming won the third quarter, outscoring SDSU by five, with Rumpf attempting to provide energy from beyond the arc, but SDSU’s defense prevented every attempt from converting into a meaningful shift.
Wyoming scored its biggest run in the fourth quarter. Rumpf shot a three to cut SDSU’s advantage to 13, then drew a foul at the three-point line and made all three free throws to bring it to ten. She remained aggressive defensively, knocking down her fifth three to cut the lead to seven, suddenly putting serious pressure on the Aztecs.
SDSU replied quickly. The Aztecs went on a 7-0 run, with Naomi Panganiban making crucial shots, adding to her 20 points, and Wyoming didn’t score again after reducing the lead to seven until Rumpf made her sixth three-pointer with approximately 50 seconds remaining. SDSU had already taken control and sailed on to victory.
Rumpf had 27 points for Wyoming, but SDSU’s discipline and defensive play were the difference all afternoon. Senior Night stirred emotions, and SDSU responded effectively, closing out the home schedule like a champion.
SDSU finishes the regular season at Air Force on Tuesday, March 3—before heading to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Conference Championships beginning on March 7 – 10
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