SAN DIEGO - San Diego women's basketball is set to take on SDSU inside Jenny Craig Pavilion on Saturday, December 5. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. (PT).
 
The contest will mark the season opener for the Toreros after the original nonconference opener was canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test within the UC Santa Barbara program.

Fans will not be permitted inside the JCP due to state and local health guidelines. The game will be broadcast on the WCC Network.
  RECAPPING THE 2019-20 CAMPAIGN
• San Diego ended the 2019-20 campaign as the runner-up in the West Coast Conference Tournament, after a 64-63 overtime loss to Portland in the championship contest.
 
•  Prior to the cancellation of the postseason, the Toreros would have earned an automatic bid to the 2020 WNIT marking the eighth postseason bid under head coach Cindy Fisher.
 
•  The road to the WCC Championship was hallmarked by the Toreros earning the automatic bid into the semifinals via the triple-bye for the first time in program history. San Diego captured the spot after defeating Pepperdine at home, 62-58.
 
•  Four Toreros earned All-WCC nods in guards Myah Pace and Jordyn Edwards, along with graduating seniors Madison Pollock and Leticia Soares. Pace and Soares also earned All-Tournament team recognition for their performances in Las Vegas.
 
•  Fisher was also recognized, being named the WCC Coach of the Year for the third time in her tenure after generating an 11-game improvement from the 2018-19 campaign.
 
•  San Diego returns three starters in Pace, Edwards and fellow senior Sydney Hunter. Pace and Edwards led San Diego's offense during 2019-20 as the top two scorers.
 
DEFENSIVE PROWESS
• San Diego's defense played an integral role last season, holding 16 opponents in WCC play to 65 points or less including in the WCC Championship.
 
• The Toreros finished the year ranked in the top 25 in NCAA Division I in multiple defensive categories including steals, steals per game, turnovers forced and turnover margin.
 
•  Oakland, Calif. native Pace led the way for San Diego, breaking the all-time single season steals record with 92 on the year. She eclipsed the mark set by Maya Hood who generated 84 during the 2015-16 season. Pace is also currently tied for 10th in the career takeaways mark with 162.
 
• Six players during the 2019-20 campaign recorded at least 30 steals on the year to add depth on the defensive end of the floor.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
• The Toreros enter the 2020 matchup against SDSU on a two-game winning streak, after defeating the Aztecs 70-47 on the road last season.
 
• In the past five years, San Diego is 4-1 against the Aztecs and is averaging 73.8 points when facing their cross-town rivals. The only loss during that time frame was a one-point thriller in 2017 that found the Toreros down 77-76 at the final buzzer in a game that featured 24 lead changes.
 
• This contest marks the 39th meeting between the two programs since 1980.
 
SENIOR LEADERS
• Pace leads the senior group as the top scorer for San Diego averaging 11.9 points per game in 2019-20. The senior guard was named an All-WCC Preseason team selection and will look to lead San Diego on both ends of the floor.
 
• The Toreros also return scoring prowess in Edwards, who was right behind Pace averaging 10.1 points per game. Edwards also led the team in blocks, three pointers, three point average, free throw average and assists. She was the sole player last season to generate over 100 assists on the year.
 
• Along with Pace and Edwards, Hunter adds depth to the senior group after starting all 31 games for San Diego last year. She averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and generated 10 blocks on the year. Hunter is projected to add depth in the post this season.
 
RETURNING TO THE FLOOR
• San Diego will welcome three players back from injury for the 2020-21 campaign in forward Kendall Bird and guards Kiera Oakry and Karla Martinez.
 
• The three returners will add depth to San Diego's rotation giving the Toreros more size down low and sharp shooters beyond the arc.
 
FRESH FACES
• The Toreros will feature a talented freshmen duo once again this season in center Laura Erikstrup (6'2", Portland, Ore.) and guard Gabby Giuffre (5'11", Le Salva Beach, Calif.).
 
• Junior transfer Steph Gorman also joins the experienced class of returners after spending her first two seasons at Utah State.