Utah State (13-12, 7-5 WAC) at New Mexico State (9-18, 5-8 WAC)
Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:00 p.m. MT • Las Cruces, N.M.
Pan American Center (12,482)
Broadcast: KLGN 1390 AM
TIP OFF — For the second time this season, Utah State [University’s] women's basketball has won three-straight games after wins against Nevada, Boise State and Idaho. The Aggies are now in the hunt in the Western Athletic Conference race. USU is currently in sixth place in the WAC standings, but are just a win away from being third as three teams are tied for third. With a double overtime win against Idaho on Feb. 22, head coach Raegan Pebley tied Fern Gardner as the all-time winningest coach in Utah State history with 55 wins. Pebley is in her sixth season with Utah State.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE — New Mexico State dominated every aspect of the game as the Aggies won for the first time on the road this season, beating San Jose State 64-50 here Sunday night in the Event Center in WAC women's basketball action. NM State improves to 9-18 on the year and 5-8 in the WAC with the win where they led by as many as 22. The Aggies have now won six-straight games over the Spartans, who fell to 2-25 and 1-13 with the loss. Before Sunday's win, New Mexico State had lost its first 12 true road games of the season. Defensively, NM State played one of its best games of the season as the Aggies forced SJSU to turn the ball over 22 times. In the first half alone SJSU had just three more shots attempted than they did turnovers. Utah State won the first game between the two this season, 72-58, in Logan on Jan. 8. NMSU was led by Tabytha Wampler who scored 15 points, while Madison Spence scored 14. NMSU is 9-18 overall and 5-8 in the WAC. Spence is the leading scorer for the Aggies, averaging 14.4 point and 3.7 rebounds per game. New Mexico State averages 60.9 points per game, while allowing 66.4.
AGGIES VS NEW MEXICO STATE IN THE WAC
2005-06
NMSU 48, USU 55 (in Logan)
USU 55, NMSU 45 (in Las Cruces)
2006-07
NMSU 68, USU 51 (in Las Cruces)
USU 70, NMSU 67 (OT) (in Logan)
2007-08
NMSU 71, USU 56 (in Las Cruces)
NMSU 71, USU 58 (in Logan)
2008-09
USU 72, NMSU 58 (in Logan)
WAC Record: 3-4
Overall Record: 10-15
SNELGRO TOPS IN THE WAC — Senior guard
Danyelle Snelgro is still ahead [of] fellow senior Dellena Criner of Nevada in steals, averaging 2.44 steals per game just ahead of Criner's 2.35 spg. She and Criner are tied for first with 61 steals. In assists, Criner has the edge, averaging 4.58 assists per game. Snelgro is second with 4.20 apg.
FOUR TO GO — After winning three-straight games, the Aggies are in the hunt in the WAC race. Despite being 7-5 and in sixth place, USU is just a win away from joining the log jam for third place. Boise State, Idaho and Nevada, all teams USU has defeated during its current winning streak, are all 8-5 and tied for third. The Aggies have four regular-season games remaining. USU has two road games against New Mexico State (Feb. 26) and Louisiana Tech (Feb. 28). The Aggies end the regular season with two at home against San Jose State (March 5) and first-place Fresno State (March 7).
NEARING 1,000 — Senior guard
Danyelle Snelgro is nearing a basketball milestone. Snelgro currently has scored 961 points in her four-year career with the Aggies. The guard is just 39 points away from reaching the 1,000 point mark. She would become the sixth member of the 1,000 point club. The last Aggie to join the club was
Taylor Richards (2005-08), who scored 1,138 points.
SEASON OF FIRSTS — Utah State continues to have several firsts this season, including sweeping Boise State for the first time since joining the WAC. USU had not even beaten the Broncos in WAC action until the win in Logan earlier this season. When the Aggies defeated Nevada in Reno on Feb. 8, it was the first they had won at the Lawlor Events Center.
Read more about the Aggie road trip in the
full story at the Athletics Web site.
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