San Diego State is 10-1, off to its best start in 26 years.

And the Aztecs are already nationally significant in one way.

Not a single returning member of SDSU’s women’s basketball team entered the transfer portal during the offseason. Only 6% of all NCAA programs can make that claim.

“We’re very proud of that,” Aztecs coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said recently. “In this day, that’s a feat to itself. And we’ve done it with very little NIL money. It speaks to the program, our staff, the university and the area. It’s a great place to be.”

Just ask guards Erin Houpt and Naomi Panganiban.

A native of Danville, Ill., Houpt came to San Diego State from Mercer before the 2023-2024 season via the transfer portal.

Panganiban chose to stay close to home after graduating from La Jolla Country Day last June.

“Something that was important to me when I was in the portal was finding a positive environment and a genuine person as the coach,” said Houpt. “I could tell Coach Stacie was that and San Diego State had the culture I was seeking. And I wanted to see the beach.”

“I’ve traveled a lot,” said Panganiban. “When I visited San Diego State, I felt very welcome. And I felt confident about being here. I’m pretty biased. San Diego is the best. I feel like I made a good decision staying in San Diego.”

Zero portal losses combined with a strong recruiting class has given San Diego State something just as unique in modern college basketball — depth.

“We go 10 to 11 players deep,” said Terry-Hutson.

Ten players average at least 10 minutes per game, and no player averages more than 27. Nine different players have started, and only two – point guard Veronica Sheffey and forward Kim Villalobos – have started every game.

Eight Aztecs averaged six or more points per game, and 11 different players have had least one game with double-digits in points.

“I have never had this type of depth before,” Terry-Hutson said. “It’s created a culture that everyone plays harder, gives it their all when they are on the court. We call it ‘We Over Me.’ Everyone makes some sacrifice so others get deserved time on the court.

“The depth and players buying into the fact that we have a lot of valuable pieces has created an energy.”

They’re versatile, too. Houpt plays shooting guard after running the point at her previous school. Panganiban plays point guard, shooting guard and wing.

“Our parts are interchangeable,” Panganiban said. “The biggest step for me was the physicality and mental prep.”

Heading into this week’s San Diego Classic at Viejas Arena, SDSU is off to its best start since the 1988-89 edition opened with 14 straight wins. A win Thursday against Stephen F. Austin would give the Aztecs their most nonconference wins since the 1983-84 season.

It’s easy to see why:

• The Aztecs rank first among Mountain West teams in offense (73.6 points per game) and defense (55.6 points allowed per game). It’s the first time since the 1991-1992 season that the Aztecs are averaging more than 70 points per game.

• The Aztec women are ranked 61st in NET, second among Mountain West teams.

• They’ve held opponents to under 40% shooting in eight of their 11 games.

• They rank 24th in the nation in turnovers (12.8 per game) and have had more turnovers than their opponent in only one game.

• The Aztecs’ bench is producing 36.8 points a game, which is the seventh-best mark in the nation.

“We call the kids off the bench ‘The Gamechangers,’” said Terry-Hutson.

Senior forward Adryana Quezada leads the Aztecs in scoring with 11.7 points per game and puts up 6.6 rebounds per game. Sheffey is averaging 9.6 points a game and leads the Aztecs with 36 assists.

Panganiban, who was the Mountain West Freshman of the Week last week for scoring 17 points in back-to-back games, is averaging 9.1 points per game.

Fellow freshman guard Nat Martinez is averaging 8.2 points per game, followed by senior forward Cali Clark (8.0 points and a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game), Villalobos (7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds) and Houpt (7.2 points per game).

Houpt shoots 48.4% from 3-point range, tops on the team.

Terry-Hutson knew depth was going to be a strength for the Aztecs this season, although that area has been tested due to some injuries. “We had a nice mix of returnees, newcomers and freshmen,” she said. “Sometimes you don’t have that combination.”

Where she sees the Aztecs really stepping it up this season is defense.

“We have had some young ladies make a big jump on defense,” said Terry-Hutson. “Last year, we were so close. But we needed to improve on defense. I think my players saw what a difference defense can make by watching the men.

“We’ve taken a page from the men in our work on defense and rebounding.”

The highly successful men’s program has had an impact on the women’s team, Terry-Hutson said.

“We’re not where the men are,” she said. “We’re improving and just trying to be the best we can. Baby steps. But people are starting to pay attention. San Diego will follow a winner. We’re happy to be in that conversation. We need to build an impressive résumé and go beyond league play.”

Panganiban says there’s “a buzz on campus” thanks to the Aztecs’ hot start.

“But this didn’t just happen,” she said. “The whole team came in this summer prepared. We were pretty much intense from the start. We had talent and we jelled. And the returning players were very welcoming to us freshmen.”

Said Houpt: “I’m not surprised by our start. We worked for it.”

Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email wcenter27@gmail.com. 

Originally Published: December 18, 2024 at 3:00 PM PST