SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — San Diego State used a strong third quarter to defeat Fresno State 68-59 in a Mountain West women’s basketball game Saturday at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs, improving to 22-4, outscored the Bulldogs 20-15 in the pivotal third period to pull away for good before a crowd of 1,961. Nala Williams led San Diego State with 14 points and six assists. Kennedy Lee added nine points and six rebounds. Fresno State, which fell to 13-14, was led by Emilia Long with 14 points and Morelia Chavez with 12 points and six rebounds. The Bulldogs shot just 2 for 11 from three-point range and 37 percent overall. San Diego State shot 41.4 percent from the field and made seven three-pointers. The Aztecs swept the season series, having also won 63-53 on Dec. 17.

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the San Diego State Aztecs used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the Fresno State Bulldogs and secure a 68-59 victory in a Mountain West women’s basketball contest Saturday afternoon at Viejas Arena. A crowd of 1,961 saw the Aztecs improve to 22-4 overall and solidify their position atop the conference standings, while the Bulldogs fell to 13-14. The game’s pivotal stretch came after halftime. Leading by just three points at 31-28, San Diego State opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run, fueled by interior baskets from Kennedy Lee and Nala Williams and a 3-pointer from Kaelyn Hamilton. That spurt pushed the lead to 41-30 and established a cushion the Bulldogs could not overcome. Fresno State, which entered the game having won three of its last four, battled throughout but was hampered by inefficient shooting. The Bulldogs converted only 20 of 54 field goal attempts, a 37 percent clip, and were anemic from beyond the arc, making just 2 of 11. They also left points at the free throw line, going 17 for 27. San Diego State was not markedly more accurate, shooting 24 of 58 from the floor and 7 of 26 from deep, but found a more consistent rhythm in the second half. The Aztecs outscored Fresno State 20-15 in the third quarter to take a 51-42 lead into the final period. The Bulldogs made several pushes to close the gap in the fourth. A layup by Jaisa Gamble cut the deficit to 57-53 with just over five minutes remaining, but the Aztecs responded immediately. Williams answered with a mid-range jumper, and after an Emilia Long basket for Fresno State, Williams struck again with another jumper to keep the lead at six. Fresno State’s last best chance came when Danae Powell hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left to make it 66-59, but San Diego State closed the game at the free throw line to seal the win. Williams led all players with a well-rounded performance of 14 points, five rebounds and six assists for San Diego State. Hamilton added 11 points and five rebounds, while Lee contributed nine points and six rebounds. Nat Martinez chipped in 10 points. For Fresno State, Long led the way with 14 points and five rebounds. Morelia Chavez, a 6-foot-1 forward from Morelia, Mexico, added 12 points and six rebounds. Powell finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. A key factor in the game was Fresno State’s ability to force turnovers and generate steals, finishing with 10 steals to San Diego State’s five and scoring 17 points off turnovers. However, the Bulldogs could not capitalize enough on those extra opportunities due to their shooting woes. The Aztecs also won the assist battle, dishing out 15 assists to Fresno State’s 10, with Williams orchestrating the offense effectively. The first half was a grinding, low-scoring affair. Both teams combined for 22 turnovers before the break. San Diego State held a narrow 16-14 lead after a first quarter that saw eight lead changes and ties. The Aztecs maintained a slight edge throughout the second quarter, taking a 31-28 lead into halftime despite shooting under 40 percent from the field. With the win, San Diego State completed a regular-season sweep of Fresno State, having also won 63-53 in Fresno on Dec. 17. The Aztecs, who were projected as overwhelming favorites by advanced metrics, now look ahead to a road test at Boise State on Wednesday. Fresno State returns home to host Grand Canyon on Wednesday, seeking to get back to the .500 mark in conference play.

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — A surging Fresno State team will face its toughest Mountain West test of the season when the Bulldogs visit first-place San Diego State in a women’s basketball matchup Saturday at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs (21-4 overall, 11-1 MW) have dominated conference play and enter on a four-game winning streak. Their lone league loss came on Feb. 4 at Grand Canyon. San Diego State, led by guard Naomi Panganiban, boasts one of the league’s most efficient offenses. Panganiban is averaging 16.3 points over her last six games, including a 20-point performance in Wednesday’s 80-62 win over UNLV. Fresno State (13-13, 7-5) has found its rhythm after a mid-season slump, winning four of its last five games. The Bulldogs are coming off a 73-59 road victory at Utah State on Sunday, where Danae Powell scored 21 points and Jaisa Gamble added 13 points and seven rebounds. Gamble has been a key contributor during the stretch, scoring in double figures in three of the last five contests. The Bulldogs will need that momentum to reverse a recent trend in the series. San Diego State won the first meeting this season, 63-53, in Fresno on Dec. 17. Containing Panganiban and the Aztecs’ balanced attack, which saw Bailey Barnhard (14 points) and Nala Williams (13 points, 5 assists) also excel against UNLV, will be paramount. A Fresno State upset would significantly bolster its conference tournament seeding, while San Diego State aims to protect its home court and maintain its grip on the top spot in the Mountain West standings. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.