SDSU tops Wyoming in triple overtime to win Mountain West Championship

LAS VEGAS – All season long the San Diego State women's basketball team has worn wrist bands with the phrases "we over me" on the outside and "sometimes you, sometimes me, always us" on the inside.

Stretched in the longest women's title game in Mountain West history, that cohesion and connection helped the fourth-seeded Aztecs (25-9) power through three overtimes to beat No. 2 Wyoming 72-68 and send the Scarlet and Black to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

"We just had great game plans. We were really prepared and they were able to lock in follow through with the game plan," said head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson. "In the first two games I thought we made minimal mistakes that gave us a good chance to win. Tonight was a little different, we were a little fatigued... but I thought the will to win, the competitive spirit kept putting us in a situation to win."

In SDSU's championship constellation, Veronica Sheffey's star shone to earn tournament most valuable player and an all tournament team selection after a game and career-high 24 points while making 9 of 10 free throws — 5 of 6 in overtime where she scored 10 points. She played 51 minutes and led the team with five assists as well.

"I just knew we were going to win the game, that was the mindset the whole time, everyone was locked in," Sheffey said. "The coaching staff really does a good job over the whole season developing us and preparing us for those moments... the credit really goes to them and then all of us sticking together and focusing to finish it off."

It was the Aztecs defensive effort against the Cowgirls (22-11) and their Player of the Year center Allyson Fertig that was vital in earning the result. One of the biggest pieces was Cali Clark, whose presence radiated after drawing into the starting lineup for just the 13th time and responded by turning in a 'one of one' effort. The senior became the only DI player this century to post a career-high equaling 17 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 blocks in a conference tournament game to go with 12 points.

San Diego State held the Cowgirls to 36.9% shooting, further clamping down in the second half and overtime to 31.1% (14 of 45) while forcing Wyoming into a season-high 25 turnovers. Fertig was held to 17 points on 6 of 15 shooting with 18 rebounds, 8 turnovers and a game-low minus-10 plus-minus, as SDSU denied entries and sent late help on double teams to regularly knock the ball free.

"We focused on the toughness it would take... the constant back and forth and just being able to pick ourselves up" Clark said. "We all trust each other... I think it's just that trust and focus on what we need to do and executing it."

There was Naomi Panganiban, the gritty local freshman, fearlessly stepping up to knock down mid-range jumpers and one of the two Aztec triples en-route to 17 points and an all tournament selection.

"I grew up watching the games at Viejas (Arena), so just to see it come to life, it as one of my dreams just to be able to give back to my city and my family, (to) play in front of my family," Panganiban said. "It means a lot."

It spoke volumes that the Aztecs drew up plays in their final possessions of regulation and the first overtime to give the 5-foot-7, proud Filipino their final shot, but what spoke even louder was how the team responded.

In a game that featured 16 lead changes and was tied 12 times, neither side building a lead bigger than 5 points, SDSU never trailed in the trio of overtimes. Kim Villalobos roared to life in the extra sessions, scoring 9 of her 11 points after regulation in her program record 153rd game in Scarlet and Black — she'll tie Adam Seiko for most ever appearances by an  Aztecs basketball player when the ball goes up in the NCAA Tournament game.

"That's why I stayed, because I know there's no ceiling on this program and I knew what Stacie and the staff could do and the new additions and my teammates," Villalobos said. "I knew exactly what we were capable of. We came into this with confidence and we executed that."

The goal to claim the championship was something Villalobos and fellow final-year senior Adryana Quezada both spoke about when they announced they'd be returning to The Mesa during the off-season.

After making All-Mountain West for the season and at the tournament last year, as well as earning a spot on the preseason all conference squad this season, Quezada made the decision with coach Terry-Hutson to come off the bench in the final. She played just over 15 minutes, but was the first player up during stoppages timeouts to pick her teammates up and led the vocal support from the sidelines.

"(Quezada) graciously gave that up because she knew that was what was going to be best for the team," Terry-Hutson said. "That's a testament to the kids we have in this program. It's 'we over me,' and she was willing to give that up for us to get the win... that just shows who we are."

A day removed from playing a key role on offense, Jazlen Green came off the bench for nearly 23 minutes of tough defending and blocked a pair of shots. It helped SDSU win the battle in the paint 34-28, while the Aztecs also won the battle on the boards 44-43.

It was only appropriate that the two top defenses in the conference played on such a razor's edge, especially considering the Aztecs had won seven straight games and 10 of 12, while Wyoming had won six in a row and 11 of 12. The game was tied at 27-27 at the half and 47-47 after regulation as SDSU survived eight 3-pointer makes by the Cowgirls in the game.

"Defensively we just got stops when we needed to and that's really been our motto all year," Terry-Hutson said. "We really tried to focus on improving on the defensive end from the summer, and being ranked in most of the categories this year, I think that's why we've been able to win as many as we have."

The title continues an upward trend for the program in recent seasons, having reached the WNIT in the 2022-23 season, advancing to the Mountain West tournament final last year and now going to the Big Dance for the 10th time in program history.

It's the first time the Scarlet and Black have done so under Terry-Hutson, with the 70 wins over the past three years equaling the stretch from 1993-94 to 1995-96 for most in a three-season span.

"There were a lot of great players and coaches before me, and they were winning championships, so I'm grateful to get back to where we were," Terry-Hutson said. "(Director of Athletics) JD (Wicker) gave me the biggest compliment after we won. He said 'You built it the right way.'

"That's what I am most proud of is we were able to get here with compassion, competitive spirit, and loyalty, and that's what I'm going to take from all of this."

San Diego State will find out their NCAA Tournament future at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.

"We're excited to see what this postseason looks like," Clark said. "Obviously we're not going to move on too quick from this, we're going to celebrate for sure."

This story was updated at 1:04 a.m. on March 13.