Dec. 19, 2003

Final Stats

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Utah State's women's basketball team suffered a 116-65 loss at Western Michigan on Friday night at University Arena. With the loss the Aggies fall to 0-6 on the season, while Western Michigan improves to 4-4.

"Western Michigan is a very talented team," said head coach Raegan Pebley. "This is a team that has received votes in the Top 25 and will probably win their conference again this year. I think it was good for our players to play against this caliber of a team. This will hopefully help us see what we need to improve on as we face the top teams in the Big West."

The Broncos began the game on an 18-0 run and never looked back, ending the half up 60-32. USU's 32 points was the most it has scored in the opening stanza this season, but it wasn't enough as WMU's Casey Rost poured in 14 first-half points and Carrie Moore tallied 15 in the opening period.

Western Michigan shot a blistering 58.3 percent (21-36) from the field in the first half, while holding Utah State to just 12 field goals. The Broncos finished the game shooting 59.1 percent (39-66) from the floor.

The Broncos continued their hot hand in the second half as they shot 60 percent, while holding the Aggies to just 22.9 percent from the field. The second half was also marred by fouls as 35 were called in the second half alone.

Freshman guard Christina Zdenek scored a season-high 19 points to lead all Aggie scorers in the game. Her previous season-high was 17 against Massachusetts. Sophomore center Ali Aird also scored in double-digits for the fifth-straight game as she recorded 11 points, five of which came from the foul line. Brittany Hagen also notched a season-best nine points and pulled down five rebounds.

A total of four Bronco players scored in double figures, led by Moore and Rost who recorded 25 and 20, respectively.

USU is next in action against Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.

UTAH STATE (65) Torp 9, Tressler 2, Aird 11, Jennings 3, Zdenek 19, Anderson 0, Peterson-Grant 5, Brox 0, Stuart 3, Johnston 2, Freeman 2, Hagen 9

WESTERN MICHIGAN (116) Koerber 5, Crisman 13, Jilian 4, Rost 20, Moore 25, Doyle 4, Verseput 5, Jackson 5, Tyson 3, Watkins 10, Driggett 8, M. Jackson 5, Owens 9.