Jan. 4, 2007

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State shot a season high 47.5 percent from the field, but a late Boise State run doomed the Aggies as Boise State posted an 80-70 win against the Aggies in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both women's basketball teams.

The loss dropped USU to 4-9, while the visiting Broncos improved to 10-4 on the year.

Trailing almost the entire game, Utah State put on a surge in the second half and after a 9-0 run, led 57-54 with 9:22 left in the game. The teams battled back and forth and after USU pulled within 62-61, Boise State went on a 12-0 run to lead 74-61 en route to the victory.

Utah State was led by Brittany Phillips, who matched her season high, with 15 points. Danyelle Snelgro added 12 points and Taylor Richards chipped in 11 points.

Richards also handed out five assists to give her 245 for her career. That tied her for the school's career assists record with Pam Shirley, who played from 1977-79.

Boise State had four players score in double-figures, including Jessica Thompson who registered 24 points. Nadia Begay added 16 points as the duo combined to hit 14 of 22 shots from the field, including six of nine three-pointers.

While USU made 47.5 percent of its attempts, it allowed BSU to make 51.8 percent from the field. The Aggies struggled at the free throw line, making just nine of 14, while the visitors made 15 of 16 charity attempts.

USU out-rebounded Boise State 33-28, marking just the third time this year the Aggies won the battle of the boards. Jenny Gross grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds while adding nine points for USU, which grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and turned those into 21 second chance points.

A 6-0 run late in the first half pulled USU within 33-32 near the end of the first half, but a 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer by Begay gave BSU a 36-32 lead at the break.

Early in the second half Richards fueled a 9-0 run to put the Aggies up 57-54 and kept the game close through the 7:09 mark of the second half.

USU will host Fresno State on Saturday at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $1 for youth. Boise State returns home to host Nevada on Saturday.