SAN DIEGO – Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson has announced the signing of 5'6" guard Erin Houpt, a transfer who played her first two seasons at Mercer. Houpt was the 2021-22 SoCon Freshman of the Year and averaged 12.6 points per game last year as a sophomore.
"Erin is a combo guard with a quick trigger from three who can score at all three levels," Terry-Hutson said. "She has a knack for drawing fouls and is an elite free throw shooter. We are looking forward to the depth we'll have in the back court next year."
Houpt, a native of Danville, Ill., started all 28 games for the Bears last year and was a Third Team All-SoCon selection. While playing a team-high 35.8 minutes per game, she shot 41.9 percent from three and 93.9 percent (92-98) from the free throw line, which led the nation.
Houpt scored in double-digits 19 times and had four games with at least 20 points, including a career-high 31 vs. Wofford where she made nine three-pointers. In conference play, she averaged 13.9 points while playing 37.9 minutes per game.
"I chose SDSU because it's a great basketball program that is on the rise," Houpt said. "The coaching staff cares about their players and winning. Plus, San Diego is a beautiful city."
As a freshman, she helped Mercer go 23-7 and win the SoCon championship while averaging 9.1 points and leading the conference with a three-point percentage of 41.4. She started 19 of Mercer's 29 games and averaged 24.1 minutes per game.
Houpt's career three-point percentage of 41.6 ranks second in the nation among underclassmen and 10th overall. She also has made 93.0 percent (133-143) of her career free throw attempts.
At Danville High School (Illinois), she scored 2,208 points and left as the school's all-time leading scorer. She was a two-time Big 12 conference player of the year and two-time AP all-state selection. As a senior, she averaged 27.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.3 assists.
Houpt is the third transfer (all guards) to join the Aztecs this offseason. She joins grad transfers Sania Wells (Auburn) and Jada Lewis (Portland State), in addition to three incoming freshmen: Mia Davis, Alyssa Jackson and Trinity Zamora. The Aztecs had their best season in a decade last season, going 23-11 and making the WNIT.