Dec. 29, 2004

Final Stats

LOGAN, Utah - Brittany Tressler came off the bench to lead Utah State in scoring with 16 points, but the Aggies managed to score just two points in the final 4:11 of the game as they fell to Idaho, 63-62, in the Big West Conference opener for both teams.

The loss dropped the Aggies to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in Big West action as they dropped their second straight conference opener in the coach Pebley era. Idaho, meanwhile, improved to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference with the win.

Tressler's 16 points came on six-of-14 from the floor, including a two-for-four mark from beyond the arc. She has now scored in double-figures in eight consecutive games off the bench.

Other Aggies in double-figures were Taylor Richards and Jessica Freeman who contributed 14 and 11, respectively. Richards also dished-out a team-high four assists, while Freeman blocked one shot to extend her streak of games with at least one block to 14.

The opening 20 minutes saw Utah State jump out to a quick 7-2 run behind a three pointer by Richards and a couple of lay-ups by Tressler and Ali Aird. The Vandals would then answer with an 11-2 run of their own to take their biggest lead of the half, 13-9, at the 12:13 mark.

USU would then take the lead back with 7:02 remaining in the period and would hold the lead until a Karly Felton trey tied the game at 29 a piece with 1:13 on the clock. It looked like USU would go into the locker room down by three as Emily Halliday hit a trey to put Idaho up 34-31 with :10 seconds remaining, but Richards took the inbounds for USU and sprinted to half court where she launched a three-pointer that banked in to tie the game at 34 to end the half.

The second half was also a story of streaks as Idaho opened the second period with a 9-2 run that gave them their biggest lead of the night. The Aggies then went on a 19-5 run over the next six-plus minutes to take its biggest lead of seven with just under 10 minutes to go in the game.

Up by four with 4:11 on the clock, USU mustered just one basket to close the game and a lay up by Leilani Mitchell with :49 seconds left in the game proved to be the game-winner.

USU tried to foul to get the ball back and the plan seemed to work as Emily Faurholt and Mitchell both missed the front ends of their free-throw attempts. But miscues by the Aggies proved costly in the final minutes as they were unable to get a good shot off.

Idaho was led by Faurholt and Heather Thoelke who chipped-in 21 and 13. Faurholt recorded a double-double as she also pulled-down a game-high 13 rebounds. Mitchell narrowly missed a double-double as she had nine points and dished-out a game-high nine assists. continued...

Utah State has one day of rest before hosting Montana State at 5:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve.