Women's Basketball Continues WAC action On Saturday At New Mexico State
Jan. 10, 2008
LOGAN, Utah - Complete Release in PDF Format
GAME #14 - Utah State (6-8, 2-0 WAC) at New Mexico State (11-3, 1-0 WAC)
QUICKLY - Utah State (6-8, 2-0 WAC) begins a three-game road stretch, first heading to Las Cruces, N.M. to take on New Mexico State (11-3, 1-0 WAC) on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in NMSU's Pan American Center (12,482).
USU senior guard Taylor Richards is 10 points shy of 1,000 career points and currently holds the No. 5 spot on USU's Career Points list. She needs 31 points to tie Pam Shirley (1977-79, 1,021 points) at No. 4.
Aggie junior guard Danyelle Snelgro surpassed 100 career steals on Saturday against San Jose State. She now holds sole possession of No. 10 on USU's career steals list with 111 steals and needs 12 steals to crack into the top four.
SEASON 20 - The 2007-08 season marks the 20th year of women's basketball at USU, and just the fifth since the program was restarted prior to the 2003-04 season. The women's hoops program at USU had been disbanded following the 1987 season due to budget cuts. USU is playing in its third season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after playing its first two seasons in the Big West Conference.
AGGIES ON THE RADIO/WEB - All Utah State women's basketball games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Evan Nyman calling the play-by-play and former USU women's basketball player Ashley Rutledge will be providing color commentary for home games. They can also be heard on the web through Yahoo! Sports, by going to the Utah State Athletics home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the Yahoo! Sports link in the right hand column.
GAMETRACKER - Fans can follow all the Aggie home games through the USU web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com via GameTracker, a free service, which updates play-by-play and statistics throughout the game.
ON THE INTERNET - All Utah State's home games are available to watch live through UtahState.tv via the internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU fans can also listen to every game both home and away, via USU's web site.
RETURNING - Head coach Raegan Pebley and the Aggies have three starters among nine letterwinners returning from last season's squad that posted an 11-18 overall record and 7-9 in the WAC... Senior forward Jenny Gross, senior guard Taylor Richards and junior guard Danyelle Snelgro return, as well as senior forward Jamelah Brown.
ABOUT UTAH STATE - The Aggies are 6-8 overall and 2-0 in WAC action after defeating San Jose State, 68-58, on Saturday and beating Hawai'i, 55-48, on Wednesday.
In the WAC statistics, Utah State leads the conference in free throw percentage (.731), and three-point field goal pct. (.360), as well as ranking seventh in scoring offense (61.9 ppg), and is tied for first in scoring defense (62.2 ppg), to rank sixth in scoring margin (-0.4). Utah State is also second in turnover margin (+5.07), second in steals (10.36 spg), sixth in assists (12.14 apg) and ninth in rebounding margin (-7.4).
Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro (5-5, Altadena, Calif.) leads Utah State with 10.4 ppg, dishing out 2.9 apg and swiping 2.6 spg. Snelgro is shooting 81.8 percent from the free throw line (27-of-39). In the league stats, Snelgro ranks second in three-point field goal pct. (.441), second in steals, seventh in assists and 14th in scoring. She netted 10 points to go along with five assists and three steals against San Jose State on Saturday, while she scored eight points and had a career-high eight steals against Hawai'i on Wednesday.
Taylor Richards (SR, G, 5-4, West Valley City, Utah) averages 10.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg, to go along with 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Richards tallied nine points and five rebounds on Saturday against San Jose State. She also scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds on Wednesday against Hawai'i. She netted a season-high 18 points against Pacific on Nov. 9. Richards is fourth in the WAC in steals, eighth in assists and 16th in scoring.
Senior guard Jamelah Brown (5-10, Phoenix Ariz.) posts 7.9 ppg and leads the team with 5.1 rpg. Brown scored six points and pulled down four rebounds against San Jose State on Saturday. Brown leads the league in three-point FG pct. (.444), 16th in rebounding and is tied for 27th in scoring.
Lindsey Shipley (JR, F, 6-0, Provo, Utah) nets 7.9 ppg and grabs 3.3 rpg. Shipley scored a career-high 20 points in the game against San Jose State on Saturday, topping her previous career-high of 19 set just three games ago against Saint Mary's on Dec. 22. She is shooting 41.5 percent from field goal range (39-of-94) and 81.5 percent from behind the charity stripe (22-of-27). In the league stats, Shipley is tied for 27th in scoring.
Senior center Jenny Gross (6-2, Caldwell, Idaho) averages 6.2 ppg and is second on the team with 4.6 rpg. Gross tallied eight points and a career-high five assists on Saturday against San Jose State, while she scored a team-high 11 points against Hawai'i on Wednesday.
LAST TIME OUT - LOGAN, Utah - Using a stellar defensive effort that forced a season-high 33 turnovers, Utah State beat Hawai'i, 55-48, Wednesday night in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball action at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.The win improves USU to 2-0 in WAC action, marking the first time in head coach Raegan Pebley's five-year tenure that the Aggies opened conference play with a 2-0 ledger.
Overall Utah State won its third in a row, tying its longest win streak under Pebley, in improving to 6-8 on the season. USU has won three of its last four games and five of the last eight.
The Aggies forced 33 Rainbow Wahine turnovers, a season-high for the USU defense, and turned those turnovers into 28 points, while only committing 17 miscues themselves which UH converted into just nine points.
From the field, Utah State shot 31.7 percent (20-of-63), including just 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) behind the three-point arc. The Aggies hit 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) at the free throw line.
Hawai'i shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the floor, but were also lowly from three-point land, making just 2-of-10 (.200). UH was 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) at the charity stripe.
The Utah State defense swiped a season-high 17 steals, including a career-high eight by junior guard Danyelle Snelgro, while junior guard Alice Coddington tied a career-high with three, part of seven players with at least one steal.
Senior forward Jenny Gross netted a team-high 11 points off the bench, while fellow senior, guard Taylor Richards tossed in 10 points.
Senior guard Jamelah Brown snared six rebounds while Richards pulled down five, but USU was out-rebounded by UH, 48-32.
The Rainbow Wahine were led by Iwona Zagrobelna's game-high 18 points along with nine rebounds, while Tanya Smith logged her 10th double-double of the year with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE - The Aggies are 11-3 overall and 1-0 in WAC action after defeating Idaho, 73-61, on Jan. 3 and beating Utah Valley, 82-73, on Jan. 5. NMSU hosts Boise State on Thursday, Jan. 10 before USU comes to town. New Mexico State opened the season with four straight wins before falling to UTEP, 72-66, in overtime on Nov. 28. The Aggies are currently riding a three-game win streak.
New Mexico State is first in the WAC in scoring defense (62.2), first in blocked shots (4.71 bpg), second in scoring margin (+6.2), third in free throw percentages (.698), third in field goal percentage (.404), third in rebounding margin (+3.6) and third in assists (13.93 apg).
Preseason all-WAC first-team selection Sherrell Neal, a 6-0 senior forward, leads NMSU with 13.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, and she is also hitting a team-high 49.7 percent from the field goal range (74-of-149). Neal is third in the WAC in rebounding, sixth in scoring, sixth in field goal percentage and second in blocked shots (1.43 bpg). Neal recorded her sixth and seventh doubles on the year as she scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Idaho on Jan. 3, while she netted 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds against Utah Valley on Saturday.
Anikia Jawak, a 6-0 senior forward, posts 11.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and is shooting 37.4 percent from field goal range (65-of-174). Jawara scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds against Utah Valley on Saturday, while she scored 10 points against Idaho on Jan. 3. Jawara is fourth in the league stats in rebounding and 10th in scoring.
Madison Spence, a 5-11 freshman guard, is the daughter of NMSU's head coach Darin Spence, posts 10.5 points and 3.64 assists per game. She is second in the WAC in assists and 16th in scoring.
NMSU head coach Darin Spence (Marymount College, 1985) is in his sixth year guiding the maroon-clad Aggies. Spence has posted a 56-76 record at NMSU, including 12-21 in WAC play. Spence is in his 17th year as a collegiate head coach, coaching at the junior college ranks from 1987-2002, with an overall ledger of 373-156.
THE SERIES VS NEW MEXICO STATE - Saturday is the 23rd meeting between USU and NMSU, with the maroon-clad Aggies holding a 13-9 advantage. That is the longest standing series between USU and any WAC opponent, as both Aggies joined the WAC during the 05-06 season, and were in the Intermountain Athletic Conference together from 1974-82, as well as being fellow High Country Athletic Conference members from 1984-87, before USU disbanded the program after the 1987 season.
The navy Aggies have won three in a row, as USU swept NMSU last year, winning, 68-51, on Feb. 5, 2007 in Las Cruces and posted a 70-67 overtime victory on Feb. 22 in Logan. Utah State also recorded its first WAC victory against New Mexico State, defeating the maroon-Aggies, 55-45, on Feb. 9, 2006 in Las Cruces.
LAST MEETING VS. NEW MEXICO STATE - It took an extra five minutes, but Utah State's women's basketball team defeated New Mexico State 70-67 in overtime on Feb. 22, 2007 in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Taylor Richards scored 19 points for USU, while NMSU's Sherrell Neal scored 28 points and pulled down 19 rebounds. Brittany Phillips was the only other USU player to score in double-figures as she pumped in 15 on five of seven shooting.
Utah State rallied to force the overtime after trailing by as many as six points (52-46) with 7:38 remaining in the game. USU scored seven straight points to take a 53-52 lead at the 5:07 mark and the teams remained within three points of each other throughout regulation.
Neal tied the game for NMSU at 59-59 hitting the second of two free throws with :41 remaining before Richards hit two free throws for USU at the 30.7 mark. However, the visiting Aggies tied the game on a layup by Neal with 10 seconds left and a USU turnover on the ensuing possession sent the game into the extra period.
From there, USU scored on three straight possessions and led 66-63. Camille Brox came up with a big steal and dished to Jenny Gross, who scored on a layup to put USU up 68-65 with :58 left.
After Neal pulled NMSU within 69-67 on another layup with :05 left, USU's Jamelah Brown made the second of two free throws and a three-point attempt by NMSU's Cecilia Russell-Nava bounced off the rim to end the game.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball as USU hit just 37.9 percent and NMSU finished at 39.7 percent. However, USU made three of five shots in overtime, while NMSU was just two of eight.
RICHARDS IS USU CAREER ASSISTS RECORD HOLDER/TOP 10 STEALS AND POINTS LIST - Senior guard Taylor Richards now has 334 assists for her career as she holds the No. 1 spot on USU's Career Assists list.
Richards also has 144 career steals to rank third on the USU Career Steals list and needs one to tie for second with Carol Garrison (145, 1980-81).
The senior guard is also No. 5 on the USU Career Points list with 990 points, surpassing Sharon Epps (1982-83, 947) on Dec. 17 after posting 17 points against Saint Mary's. She needs 31 more to tie Pam Shirley (1977-79, 1021) who holds the No. 4 spot.
Richards is also in sole possession of the No. 6 slot in career free throw percentage (192-of-280, .686).
SNELGRO MOVING UP CAREER ASSISTS LIST/SNEAKING INTO CAREER STEALS LIST - Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro entered the career assists list on Nov. 28 and currently holds the No. 7 spot with 167 helpers, surpassing Kim Searle (160 assists, 1983-84) Saturday against San Jose State. She needs 24 assists to become tied for sixth with Dorinda Carey (191 assists, 1978-81). Snelgro also has 111 career assists and is tied for ninth on the Career Assists list with Joy Rosenbrook (1980-81) and needs 12 steals to crack into the top four.
THREE-POINTERS MADE LIST - Senior guard Taylor Richards, senior guard Jamelah Brown, junior forward Lindsey Shipley and junior guard Danyelle Snelgro all hold a spot on the USU Career Three-Pointers Made list. Richards holds sole possession of No. 2 with 78 three-pointers made, surpassing Brittany Phillips (2003-07, 75 three-pointers made) on Jan. 2, 2008 at Southern Utah. She needs five three-pointers to tie for first with Brittany Hagen (2003-07, 83 treys). Snelgro is currently sixth, Shipley is seventh and Brown is ninth with 44, 34 and 23 three-pointers made, respectively.
GAMES PLAYED - Senior guard Taylor Richards and senior center Jenny Gross are eighth and 10th in career games played, respectively. Richards has appeared in 98 career games, while Gross has played in 89 games.
TIME SHARES - Nine Aggies are averaging at least 10 minutes a game with senior guard Taylor Richards leading the way at 29.5 minutes per game.
SCORING SPREAD - Six Aggies have led or shared the lead in scoring this season with senior guard Taylor Richards and junior forward Lindsey Shipley paving the way with five games each, as Richards netted a season-high 18 points against Pacific on Nov. 9 and Shipley posted a career-high 20 points against San Jose State... Six different players have led in rebounding, with senior guard Jamelah Brown leading the way with six games, as Brown pulled down a career-high nine rebounds against Montana State on Dec. 17, while senior center Jenny Gross has led the way in four games and grabbed a season-high 11 boards at Portland State on Nov. 16.
PEBLEY'S BITS
- Pebley is entering her fifth season as head coach at Utah State, which is the longest tenure in the program's history... Pebley has coached 124 games and became the all-time leader in most games coached after the game at Idaho State on Nov. 28, topping Cindy Perkins (1978-82) who coached 115 games in her tenure at Utah State.
- With 39 careers wins, Pebley is second on USU's coaching wins list... Fern Gardner is the current leader with 55 career wins from 1972-1976.
- Four players earned academic all-conference honors in 2007 which include Jenny Gross, Brittany Hagen, Brittany (Tressler) Phillips and Taylor Richards.
- With a total of seven newcomers (four freshmen, three transfers), this is the largest group of newcomer's since Pebley's first season in 2003-04.
UP NEXT - USU continues its current three-game road stretch at defending WAC champion Boise State (8-5, 0-1 WAC) on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in BSU's Taco Bell Arena (12,400) and then finish at Idaho (1-12, 0-1 WAC) on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at UI's Cowan Spectrum (7,000).
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