Four sophomores have been the backbone of the fourth straight 20-win season by San Diego State’s women’s basketball team.
Guards Naomi Panganiban and Nat Martinez were regulars as freshmen on the SDSU team that won last year’s Mountain West tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Forward Bailey Barnhard moved into the starting lineup this season. And Kaelyn Hamilton is being promoted as the best “Sixth Woman” in the Mountain West by Aztecs coach Stacie Terry-Hutson.
When the Aztecs returned for preseason drills this year, the four sophomores were also the four most experienced returning Aztecs on the roster.
Combined, the four account for 54% of all the points and 34% of the rebounds accumulated by the Aztecs during this season’s 20-4 run. They will be in action at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Viejas Arena, when the Mountain West-leading Aztecs (20-4, 14-1) take on second-place UNLV (17-8, 12-3) in their biggest home game yet.
“We’re a young team, but we’re mature,” Terry-Hutson said recently. “A lot of that goes to the growth of those four sophomores. And they’ve done it together.”
Because the four are more than teammates. They’re also roommates and close friends.
Panganiban, Martinez, Barnhard and Hamilton share a two-bedroom apartment on campus.
“Rooming together has definitely helped us grow tighter on and off the court,” Martinez said recently.
“Getting to know each other’s personalities on a deeper level has been fun,” Hamilton said. “We get to see each other outside of basketball. We’ll eat together and go to movies together. Just hang out together.”
Said Barnhard: “There’s a lot to like about this arrangement. We’re all from different backgrounds, although Naomi and I have known each other since we played on the same club team while sophomores in high school. And it’s helped with the basketball chemistry on the court. We like each other. And we’re all committed to advancing San Diego State basketball.”
Naomi Panganiban #24 of San Diego State drives to the basket against Ava Schmidt #13 of Santa Clara during their game at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Panganiban (La Jolla Country Day) and Barnhard (Del Norte High School) were roommates as freshmen in a different apartment. So were Martinez and Hamilton.
Over the summer, Aztec coaches suggested the four might want to merge the two residences into one.
“There were a lot of potential benefits,” Terry-Hutson said of the idea. “The four were already close friends. They came into the program together as freshmen. They were already together much of the time.
“Having them live together has helped in their development and the team’s development. Just having them learning and knowing each other is a huge benefit … that’s been the biggest benefit. They know the good and bad about each other, the ins and outs.”
And the bonds the four have built as friends and roommates extend to their development on the court.
Bailey Barnhard #20 of San Diego State goes up for a shot against Delainey Miller #20 of Santa Clara during their game at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“Pretty much everything we do right now has a basketball connection,” said Barnhard. “It helps that all four of us play and that we’re not all at one position. We can all work together to improve leadership as a team.”
Four young women in a two-bedroom apartment with four separate study areas can create traffic jams.
“There’s never a dull moment,” said Martinez.
“That’s very accurate,” Panganiban interjected. “We’ve become very good friends, but sometimes we’d like a little more privacy.”
There is little cooking involved. “We all have meal cards,” said Panganiban.
Everyone does their own laundry, but Hamilton does the dishes because, as she said, “I love doing the dishes.”
“We agree on television because most of the time we have basketball on,” Panganiban said.
But there are some differences. Martinez is a morning person. Barnhard is a night person. And Panganiban said her sleep habits “depend on what time basketball practice is.”
“Living together has helped us grow on and off the court,” said Martinez. “Individually as players, we’re willing to sacrifice our own personal game to come together as a team.”
Nat Martinez #10 of San Diego State attempts a shot against Delainey Miller #20 and Kate Schat #3 of Santa Clara during their game at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Martinez, for example, was primarily known as an outside shooter when she arrived at San Diego State. Less than two seasons later, Terry-Hutson says Martinez has developed into a smart defender and a playmaker.
“Honestly, all four have expanded their games,” the coach said.
The goal remains the same.
“We want to win. We’ll do whatever that takes,” Panganiban said.
Said Barnhard: “We’re playing with the motivation of what comes in March, the league championships and beyond … pushing toward that championship, which is my ultimate motivation.”
But they also remain competitive, all the way down to the electric scooters each roommate uses to navigate Montezuma Mesa.
“Mine is the fastest,” said Panganiban.
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.
San Diego State (20-4, 14-1) vs. UNLV (17-8, 12-3)
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Viejas Arena