SAN DIEGO – San Diego women's basketball will kick off the 2018-19 season on the road Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) at Southern Utah before their home opener against Hawai'i on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
The Toreros are coming off a strong 2017-18 campaign, in which they finished 17-15 and were one win away from the NCAA tournament. 
 
USD will feature a young squad after graduating five seniors last season, including All-WCC honorees Aubrey Ward-El (first team) and Maya Hood (second team). Hood finished her career as San Diego's all-time leader in rebounds, offensive rebounds and steals. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST SOUTHERN UTAH
• The Toreros are 3-0 in the all-time series with the Thunderbirds. In their last meeting, San Diego defeated Southern Utah 72-59, led by Aubrey Ward-El (17 points), Maya Hood (12 points) and Alexandra Hagen (10 points).
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST HAWAII
• San Diego is 1-5 against the Rainbow Wahine in the all-time series. Last season the Toreros suffered a 64-63 overtime loss after Hawai'i hit two free-throws in the final seconds. Myah Pace scored 16 points and six rebounds to lead the Toreros.
 
FRESH FACES
• The Toreros will feature a talented incoming group this season that includes freshmen Kiera Oakry (5-10, San Diego, CA), Aminata Dosso (5-9, Paris, France), Karla Martínez (5-9, Zacatecas, Mexico) and Nicole Blakes (6-2, Sunnyvale, CA). 
 
• USD also added junior transfer Leticia Soares (6-1, Odessa Junior College) and redshirt sophomore transfer Jordyn Edwards (5-8, Colorado State) to join its experienced group of upperclassmen. 
 
PACE NAMED TO ALL-WCC PRESEASON TEAM
• Sophomore guard Myah Pace was named to the preseason All-West Coast Conference Team, as announced at the annual WCC Tip-Off event in October.
 
• In her freshman season, Pace played in 32 games, making 17 starts for the Toreros. She averaged 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists and was named to the WCC All-Freshman Team.
 
INTERNATIONAL FLARE
• San Diego's roster includes scholar-athletes from seven different countries. Countries represented include France, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Germany and the United States.
 
NOTEABLE DEPARTURES
• The Toreros graduated five seniors from the 2017-18 team including All-WCC honorees Aubrey Ward-El (first team) and Maya Hood (second team).
 
• Hood finished her career as San Diego's all-time leader in rebounds, offensive rebounds and steals.
 
PRESEASON POLL
• San Diego (17-15, 8-10) was picked to finish fifth in the WCC preseason poll after making it to the WCC Championship final last season. 
 
• Gonzaga (27-6, 17-1) received seven first place votes and tallied 79 points to sit atop the preseason coaches' poll. Saint Mary's (20-11, 13-5) received two votes to take second place (73 points). 
 
• BYU (16-4, 11-7) received the remaining vote to take third (66 points) and Loyola Marymount (19-11, 11-7) rounded out the top five with 52 points. 
 
COACH FISHER'S FOURTEENTH
• Head coach, Cindy Fisher, enters her 14th season leading the Toreros with an overall record of 253-166.
 
• In the past seven years, Fisher has guided San Diego to five 20-win seasons and recorded a .674 win percentage (153-74), the second best amongst all division I schools in California, trailing only Stanford in this category.