SAN DIEGO – Wrapping up the team's first home stand of December, the San Diego women's basketball team (4-6, 0-0 WCC) powered its way on both ends of the court to a 70-66 victory over Utah State (3-5, 0-0 MWC) on Sunday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The Toreros' offense was in sync from the jump as they led nearly wire-to-wire aided by the team's strong first half performance that was jump started by Lilly Amor who caught fire nailing a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter. Freshman forward Ayla Williams continued playing crucial minutes for the Toreros as she posted her second consecutive double-double, as she was collecting rebounds and earning trips to the free throw line throughout Sunday's game.
Freshman guard Olivia Owens was key for the Toreros as she netted a new career-best 25 points knocking down crucial free throws that helped USD earn their third home victory of the 2025-26 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Getting off to a fast start on their home floor, USD raced out to an early 6-0 lead as Owens knocked down an open three after a Hallie Rhodes offensive board. Williams followed by earning a bucket and a foul to force the Aggies into an early timeout.
- After Utah State responded and tied the game up at six all, the Toreros went for a 12-0 run led by Amor's play as she made back-to-back threes and assisted on a jumper from Owens.
- Checking into the game in the first quarter, Kylie Ray made her presence felt early by directing the offense as she grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds before making a quick read to force a foul and earn her first points at the free throw line.
- San Diego put up 25 points in the first quarter and played consistently stingy defense to force turnovers and generate consecutive stops.
- Ayla Williams showed her physicality throughout the first half she went to the free throw line five separate times scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds along the way.
- Towards the end of the first half, the Toreros went on an 8-0 scoring run as Owens grabbed a rebound and took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup that pushed USD's lead to 34-21.
- Wrapping up the first 20 minutes of play, Williams put home a jump shot that pushed the Torero lead back up to double digits as they led 45-35 heading into the locker room.
- The second half began with physical play from both sides as the scoring didn't start for the Toreros until Olivia Owens put home back-to-back buckets with her second three-pointer of the game and a mid-range jumper to make it 50-37 USD.
- Right before the end of the third quarter, Jayden Rhodes assisted Owens for her third three-pointer of the game making the score 56-47 with just 10 minutes remaining.
- In a low scoring start to the fourth quarter, the Toreros' defense stayed persistent with a block from Williams and a steal from Owens that led to Eva Ruse being fouled and earning a trip to the charity stripe. Ruse knocked down both free throws she pushed the lead up to 58-51.
- San Diego fortified their lead with three unanswered buckets as Hallie Rhodes scored her 10th point of the game with a layup, a pair of free throws from Williams, and a layup from Owens to make it 63-51.
- After a big stop with a dead ball rebound with less than a minute left in the game, the Aggies resorted to having to start fouling to extend the game as Owens kept connecting on free throws to keep USU at bay.
- Utah State didn't go down without a fight, as they made two straight three-pointers late in the game to keep the score close, but USD persevered, winning 70-66 on Sunday to end the week.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Ray made her return from injury coming off the bench, checking in for 11 minutes and putting up six points for the day.
- Putting together another tremendous outing from the team's starting lineup, Williams posted her second consecutive double-double as she ended the day with 14 points, 18 rebounds as well as a pair of assists and blocks.
- Owens once again broke out with an impressive scoring burst as she posted 25 points and collected nine big rebounds for the Toreros against Utah State.
- The Toreros once again controlled the glass during the victory as the doubled up the Aggies on the boards by a 42-21 margin.
POST GAME WITH THE TOREROS
NEXT UP
USD now looks ahead to the team's farthest trip of the season as they will take on Wisconsin (7-1, 1-0 B1G) this coming Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00 a.m. PST from the Kohl Center. Live video and live statistic links for Wednesday's matchup with the Badgers can be found via the team's schedule page.
