San Diego Women's Basketball Hosts Portland State in Home Opener

The University of San Diego women’s basketball team hosts Portland State at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Tuesday night.

This matchup marks the start of a 17-game home schedule for the Toreros, who enter the contest with a 1-1 record. The team is looking to find its rhythm following a narrow 90-88 overtime loss to UC San Diego in the National University Bill Walton Classic, according to University of San Diego Athletics.

The loss to the Tritons was a statistical anomaly of momentum. While the Toreros held a lead for 37:52 of the 45 minutes of regulation and led by as many as 16 points, they surrendered a 10-point advantage in the final 76 seconds of play. BVM Sports said that while San Diego controlled the boards with a 45-32 advantage, 19 turnovers allowed UC San Diego to score 23 points.

Portland State vs San Diego College Womens Basketball 2026 — USA Athletic Basketball26

Junior Eva Ruse has emerged as a central figure for the Toreros’ offensive and defensive identity. In the recent overtime loss, Ruse matched her career high with 20 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards. She was responsible for all 10 of San Diego’s points during the overtime period.

The scoring load is distributed across several key contributors, which provides the team with depth despite the recent setback. The following table breaks down the performance of the primary Torero scorers from the previous outing:

USD WBB Postgame Media — USD Toreros

Player	Points	Key Statistic
Eva Ruse	20	13 rebounds
Jessica Ajayi	18	4 three-pointers
Olivia Owens	15	5 assists
Kylie Ray	14	9 rebounds
Sammie Wagner	11	2 three-pointers

Kylie Ray remains a vital piece of the rotation, currently leading the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game and minutes at 36.2 per game. She has also maintained a 90.4 percent success rate from the free-throw line this season.

While Portland State enters the game with an 0-2 record, the historical data favors the home team. San Diego leads the all-time series 4-1 and has secured victories in the last two meetings between the programs. The most recent encounter in November 2023 resulted in a 71-43 win for the Toreros.

The matchup also features several connections between the two programs. Portland State associate head coach Kerri Nakamoto is a former Torero standout, having earned All-WCC honors during her tenure at USD. USD graduate student Sammie Wagner and Portland State sophomore Sara Barhoum were teammates at Oregon during the 2025-26 season.

The stakes for Tuesday’s game extend beyond the immediate win-loss column. For the Toreros, a victory would provide a necessary home-court reset after the late-game collapse against UC San Diego. For Portland State, the game offers a chance to secure their first win of the season.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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