Aggie Women Open WNIT Action at Utah Thursday Night
Utah State [University] women's basketball plays in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), traveling to the University of Utah on Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m. (MT). This is the second-straight season that USU will take part in postseason action, reaching the second round of the WNIT last season.
The Aggies are 21-9 this season, advancing to the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. The 21 wins is a school record for Utah State, breaking last season's record of 18-15. Utah (15-15) will be the second Pac-12team USU has faced in the WNIT, defeating Arizona in the first round a year ago.
The Utes lead the all-time series, 29-2, over the Aggies. The two teams did not meet in the regular season this year. The last time the two teams met was Jan. 1, 2011, when Utah defeated Utah State, 73-61, in Salt Lake City. USU's last win over Utah was a 67-58 win to open the 2009-10 campaign. Utah State's other win against Utah came on Feb. 28, 1975, 69-55.
Utah is 15-15 overall this season. The Utes have made five appearances in the WNIT (1979, 1984, 1999, 2007 and 2010) with a 3-8 overall record. Utah went 1-1 during each of their last two appearances in 2007 and 2010. In 2010, Utah defeated Saint Mary's before falling to eventual WNIT champion California in the second round.
The Utes are led by Michelle Plouffe who averages 14.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg. As a team, Utah averages 58.7 ppg, while allowing 55.8 ppg.
Senior forward Ashlee Brown (15.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg) has been the leader for the Aggies this season, earning first-team all-WAC honors and was the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Junior guard Devyn Christensen also earned first-team honors and leads the team, averaging 15.3 ppg.
Utah State dropped to third in the country in three-point field goal percentage, according to the latest NCAA statistics, released on Monday [March 12, 2012]. Utah State is third in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (38.7 percent). The Aggies are 162-of-514 from beyond the arc. Richmond is first in the nation (39.0).
The winner of the game between Utah State and Utah will take on the winner of the Washington versus Cal Poly. The Huskies and the Mustangs will meet Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. (PT). The second-round game will be played March 17-19 at a time to be determined.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth and are on sale now at www.Utahtickets.com. There is also free video feed available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
All Utah State games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Craig Hislop taking the reins this season. They can also be heard on the web by going to the Utah State Athletics home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and click on the "Listen Live" link in the right hand column.
Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter and Utah State Athletics.
Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.
Senior Brooke Jackson and the Aggies will take on Utah in the first round of the WNIT Thursday. (photo from Athletics website)
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