San Diego State’s Hutchinson Returns for Tournament

The return of Aztec Tina Hutchinson and the appearance of the nation’s fifth-ranked women’s basketball team will highlight the Kangaroos Shoot-Out, which begins tonight in Peterson Gym.

Hutchinson, who has missed San Diego State’s last four games because of a knee injury, is expected to play some tonight when the 12th-ranked Aztecs face Hardin-Simmons at 8:05.

In tonight’s first game at 6:05, fifth-ranked Northeast Louisiana will face Texas-San Antonio. The Lady Indians have won their first nine games this season.

Here’s a closer look at the teams competing:

SAN DIEGO STATE

Record: 10-2 (Ranked No. 12)

Players to watch: Dee Dee Duncan (11.8 points per game, F), Shelda Arceneaux (11.2 ppg., F) and Tina Hutchinson (22.4 ppg., F)

Update: The Aztecs are coming off a 68-66 loss to unranked Oregon State in which they committed 33 turnovers, and Riggins is hoping that the loss will shake his squad up a bit. “We have to shock these people into realizing that we can’t use Tina being out as an excuse,” said Riggins, about a 6 a.m. practice New Year’s Day. “It wasn’t used as punishment, but rather to make them realize there are things that need to be done.” N.E. LOUISIANA

Record: 9-0 (Ranked No. 5)

Players to watch: Lisa Ingram (23.8 ppg., 9.1 rebounds per game, C), Chana Perry (20.0 ppg., 11.7 rpg., F) and E.J. Lee (10.6 assists per game, G)

Outlook: The Lady Indians were 23-4 a year ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Texas. This year’s squad may be better, though, and has already polished off highly-touted Tennessee, 68-53, this season. Lee, a 5-6 junior, is second in the nation in assists with her 10.6 average. If Northeast has a question mark, it is rebounding. The Lady Indians were out-rebounded, 46-28, by Cal State Fullerton in Wednesday night’s 66-65 victory at Fullerton.

TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO

Record: 5-6

Players to watch: Starlite Williams (16.0 ppg., 7.3 rpg., F) and Margaret Martinovich (15.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg., C)

Outlook: The Roadrunners finished 21-6 a year ago in only their third season of existence. This year, however, the team is trying to overcome the loss of last season’s top two scorers, Kim Maxwell and Valerie Wells. Williams and Martinovich are helping to make up for the losses, but the Roadrunners still figure to have trouble getting past Northeast Louisiana in tonight’s first round.

HARDIN-SIMMONS

Record: 3-5

Players to watch: Alice Caroland (5-9, F) and Cindy Anthony (5-0, G)

Outlook: The Cowgirls were only 7-23 a year ago and must face the more-talented Aztecs in tonight’s first round. Riggins said that the team from Abilene, Tex., will go after SDSU with a tight man defense and a motion offense. Hardin-Simmons’ wins have come over Houston-Tillotson (twice) and Lubbock Christian. Among the team’s losses are defeats by New Mexico and New Mexico State.