Feb. 21, 2008

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah - On "Think Pink Night," four players in navy and white posted double-figures to pace Utah State to a 56-48 win over Nevada in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball action Thursday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

As part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association "Cancer Awareness Weekend," Thursday was "Think Pink Night" at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Utah State players were decked out in pink warm-ups and sported pink shoelaces and headbands.

It was USU's second win in a row, improving to an 8-16 overall and 4-8 WAC ledger. Nevada has now lost two of its last three and is 18-8 overall and 9-4 in WAC play.

The win evens the series at four-all between the Aggies and Wolf Pack, splitting the season meetings with each team winning on its home court after Nevada's 75-55 win at Reno on Feb. 2.

Thursday was the sixth time that four USU players have posted double-digits this season, as senior forward Jenny Gross led the way with 13 points while classmate Taylor Richards posted 12 points. Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro tallied 11 and senior guard Jamelah Brown tossed in 10.

Nevada was led by Brandi Fitzgerald's game-high 15 points while Cherlanda Franklin added 10.

USU's Brown and UNR's Fitzgerald tied for game-high rebounding honors with eight each, as the Wolf Pack out-rebounded the Aggies, 41-38, highlighted by 16 on the offensive end.

Utah State shot 24-of-56 (42.9 percent) from the floor, hitting just 1-of-10 (10.0 percent) from three-point range. Nevada was 20-of-64 (31.3 percent) field goal shooting, including a paltry 1-of-15 (6.7 percent) behind the arc. It was a new USU-opponent season-low for three-point percentage.

Both teams were 7-of-10 (70.0 percent) at the free throw line, as there were only 18 combined fouls called.

After USU opened with a 7-2 lead, Nevada stormed back with an 11-2 run to take a 13-9 lead at the 13:52 mark on a Fitzgerald jumper.

Brown had a backcourt steal and layup at 12:55 to knot the score at 13-all and the Aggies never trailed again.

Utah State led 28-25 at the half and stretched its lead to 40-33 on a jumper by Brown with 12:15 to play. The Wolf Pack whittled the deficit to 44-41 with 7:19 remaining on another Fitzgerald jumper. However, the Aggies pushed their lead to the largest of the night at 54-43 with 1:52 left on the clock and sealed the win.

USU continues its two-game homestand on Sunday, Feb. 24, hosting Fresno State at 2 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Utah State women's basketball tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by calling or (435) 797-0305 or 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831).

All Aggies women's basketball games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Evan Nyman calling the play-by-play and former USU women's basketball player Ashley Rutledge will be providing color commentary for home games. They can also be heard on the web through Yahoo! Sports, by going to the Utah State Athletics home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the Yahoo! Sports link in the right hand column.