The season came to a close Thursday night for San Diego State, as the Aztecs fell to Kansas in the WBIT quarterfinals 85-78 in a high-level, back-and-forth battle. It was a game all about grit & toughness and showed both the promise of the program and the short comings that ultimately decided the game.
A slow offensive start and ending ultimately doomed the Aztecs on the night. SDSU couldn’t convert down the stretch, allowing Kansas to pull away in the closing minutes of what was a neck & neck, multiple lead changing matchup.
The Aztecs leaned on a balanced attack led by Naomi Panganiban & Nala Williams, with Panganiban delivering a steady 20 points on 6-9 shooting, including 2-3 from deep and 6-6 at the free throw line. Williams, who finished with seven assists and zero turnovers, controlled the tempo throughout, while Panganiban stepped up in key moments, including late possessions that briefly cut the deficit to give SDSU a fighting chance.
Kennedy Lee also provided a big spark, knocking down four three-pointers to help the Aztecs get their rhythm in the first half. SDSU’s perimeter shooting was major, especially during a 27-point second quarter that allowed them to keep pace in this shootout.
Kansas, however, responded with big shots from their interior led by established stars Jaliya Davis (25 points, 6 rebounds) and an unexpected difference-maker from beyond the arc Lily Meister (14 points, 5 rebounds).
While SDSU prepared for Kansas’ primary contributors, it was Lily—who entered shooting in the high 20-percent range from three—who shifted the game. Her four made three-pointers forced the Aztecs to adjust defensively and opened up the floor for Kansas’ offense. “Lily was the difference for us,” head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said. “That’s on me because that was a strategy thing… those are four really tough shots she made.”
The game turned in the fourth quarter, where Kansas made key defensive adjustments and limited San Diego State’s clean looks from deep. After finding success early, the Aztecs struggled to maintain that same offensive flow late.
Terry-Hutson pointed to missed opportunities in the closing stretch as the deciding factor. “We had our chances. We just didn’t make shots down the stretch,” she said. A critical sequence late in the game saw SDSU cut the deficit to four and earn a flagrant foul opportunity, but a missed three-pointer on the ensuing possession halted their momentum.
“Anytime I have a good look at the basket, it’s going up,” Panganiban said. “Just unfortunate that it didn’t go my way.”
While the offense performed at a high level in the middle quarters, Kansas was equally effective, keeping the pressure on throughout the whole game. “I thought defensively we could have done a couple things differently in the first half,” Terry-Hutson said. “We gave up too many points… it was just an all-around good basketball game.”
A Next Step in the Growth of SDSU Women’s Basketball
Even in defeat, the larger story for San Diego State is one of growth and trajectory. The Aztecs finished the year with 27 wins and a regular season conference championship, marking a significant step forward under Terry-Hutson’s leadership.
The program got over the hump of defeating conference bully of UNLV for the second straight season. SDSU was indeed the standard bearer for the entire year and they carried it very well on and off the court. The joy that this team played with together translated over into the community, earning new fans to their supporters list.
“I’m just really proud of our group,” she said. “We’ve had an amazing year… and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to compete at a high level.” The WBIT run added valuable postseason experience for a team that continues to build its identity and confidence on a national stage.
The development of players like Williams, a Division II transfer who became a cornerstone of the team, highlights the program’s upward momentum. “You could not tell,” Terry-Hutson said of Williams’ transition. “Player of the year in our conference. The stats speak for themselves… she’s the light of our team.”
That ability to blend veteran leadership, player development, and team chemistry has positioned SDSU for continued success.
As the Aztecs prepare for their transition into a new era, the lessons from this loss could serve as a springboard. Terry-Hutson emphasized the importance of building on this experience, noting the success past WBIT teams have found in following seasons.
“We’re going to build on this,” she said. “I’m hoping that we can… jump start our new path as we enter the Pac-12.”
For a program that has steadily climbed, Thursday’s loss definitely leaves the sting of what could have been, but it also reinforced just how close San Diego State is to breaking through on an even bigger stage.
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