Jan. 12, 2009
LOGAN, Utah - GAME #17 Nevada (8-7, 2-0 WAC) at Utah State (7-8, 1-2 WAC) Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7:00 p.m. • Logan, Utah Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270) Broadcast: KLGN 1390 AM (Tape Delay) www.UtahStateAggies.com
TIP OFF - Utah State will conclude its four-game homestand with games this week against Nevada on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and against defending WAC Champion Boise State on Saturday, Jan. 17. The game against the Broncos is the first half of a doubleheader with the men's team. The women will play at 3 p.m., while the men take the court at 7 p.m. Last week, the Aggies got spectacular performances from senior guards Ana Pares and Danyelle Snelgro. Pares scored in double-figures for the seventh-straight game, while Snelgro scored a career 19 points and added another career high with 10 assists.
SCOUTING NEVADA - Led by Dellena Criner's 21 points and double-digit rebounds by Cherlanda Franklin and Brandi Jones, Nevada beat New Mexico State 61-56 at Lawlor Events Center. With the win, Nevada improved to 8-7 overall and 2-0 in WAC play and opened WAC play with back-to-back wins for the third time in program history. With the loss, New Mexico State fell to 4-12 overall and 0-2 in WAC play. Franklin, who grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds, and Jones, who tied her career high with 11, each joined the 500 career rebound club against New Mexico State. Franklin has recorded 504 career rebounds while Jones has recorded 503. They are the 11th and 12th players in program history to record at least 500 career rebounds. They are both on pace to break into the career top-10 in rebounding as KaTrina Crenshaw (1994-97) is 10th on the career rebounding list with 512 career rebounds. The Wolf Pack are led by preseason WAC Player of the Year Dellena Criner, who averages 14.9 points per game. Criner leads the WAC in assists (4.47 apg). The defensive-minded Criner is also tops in the league in steals per game, averaging 2.53 spg. The Wolf Pack lead the WAC right now with a 2-0 in conference record and a overall record of 8-7. They are the only undefeated team remaining in league play. Nevada leads the overall series 5-4, including winning four of the six meetings since USU joined the WAC during the 2005-06 season.
AGGIES VS NEVADA IN THE WAC
2005-06
Nevada 64, USU 54 (in Reno)
Nevada 67, USU 51 (in Logan)
2006-07
USU 59, Nevada 44 (in Logan)
Nevada 61, USU 49 (in Reno)
2007-08
Nevada 75, USU 55 (in Reno)
USU 56, Nevada 48 (in Logan)
Overall Record: 2-4
LAST TIME OUT - In a battle of the Western Athletic Conference's two best defenses, Utah State women's basketball came closer than it ever had to defeating Louisiana Tech with a, 90-82, overtime loss to the Lady Techsters on Saturday a the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. In the loss, senior guard Danyelle Snelgro took sole possession of the first place on the all-time steal chart with her 176th steal in the first half. Louisiana Tech evened out its record to 8-8, 1-1 in the WAC with the win, while USU falls to 7-9, 1-2 in league play. The Lady Techsters now lead the overall series 7-0. Along with the steal record, Snelgro also added a career-high 10 assists and came within three rebounds of a triple-double. The senior did tie a career high with 19 points en route to her second double-double of the season and the Aggies third overall. Utah State played its fourth overtime game and third at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies are now 2-2 in extra time this season. The Aggies had three players in double digits as they scored a season-high 82 points. Senior guard Ana Pares led the way with 20 points, scoring in double digits for the seventh-straight game. Snelgro added 19, while junior forward Lydia Whitehead scored 13 points. On the boards, junior forward Nicole Johnson led the way with eight, while sophomore guard Alice Coddington added six to go along with four points and a team-high four steals.
TOP THIEF - With a season-high five steals, senior guard Danyelle Snelgro tied all-time steal leader Margaret Johns (1980-83) with 175 steals. In the win against New Mexico State, Snelgro passed former teammate Taylor Richards (2005-08) who ended her storied Aggie career with 172 steals. She took sole possession of first place with her first steal against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 10.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS - The Aggies had a season-high 20 assists in the win against New Mexico State on Jan. 8. Danyelle Snelgro had a season-high nine assists, while sophomore Alice Coddington had six assists. Snelgro is now second all-time in assists with 272. Taylor Richards is the all-time assists leader with 371. Snelgro is second in the league in assists, averaging 4.00 apg.
THREE TIMES THE FUN - After a solid offensive week, the Aggies now have three players averaging in double figures in scoring, Danyelle Snelgro (13.6). Ana Pares (13.2) and Lydia Whitehead (10.1). Snelgro is sixth in the WAC in scoring, while Pares is eighth. Whitehead moved up to 15th in the league in scoring.
HERE COME THE SCORERS - When Nevada's Dellena Criner comes to town the Aggies will have now faced the top five scorers in the WAC in the last three games. Louisiana Tech's Shanavia Dowdell leads the WAC in scoring, averaging 16.1 ppg, while teammates Whitney Jones (14.4 ppg) and Adrienne Johnson (13.8 ppg) are fourth and fifth, respectively. New Mexico State's Madison Spence is third in scoring (14.5), while Criner is second (14.9 ppg).
ON THE HORIZON: BOISE STATE - The Aggies will look for their first win against Boise State when the Broncos come to town on Saturday, Jan. 17. Boise State has suffered several injuries, including all-WAC selections from last season, Tasha Harris and Jessica Thompson. Despite the setbacks the Gordy Presnell led Broncos are still 8-8 and 1-1 in WAC play this season.
AGGIES VS BOISE STATE IN THE WAC
2005-06
Boise State 70, USU 38 (in Boise)
Boise State 72, USU 55 (in Logan)
2006-07
Boise State 80, USU 70 (in Boise)
Boise State 80, USU 38 (in Logan)
2007-08
Boise State 85, USU 77 (in Boise)
Boise State 65, USU 57 (in Logan)
Overall Record: 0-6
AGGIES IN OPENERS - Utah State began its fourth season in the WAC on Monday, Jan. 5 with a loss at Idaho. This was the first year that USU will start WAC play on the road. It is also the first time that the Aggies begin with the Vandals of Idaho. In its first season, USU fell to San Jose State in Logan, 63-51, while losing to Boise State in 2006-07, 80-70. Last season, the Aggies earned their first WAC opener win with a 68-58 win over San Jose State. While this is the first WAC opener against Idaho, USU has opened conference play against the Vandals when both teams were in the Big West. Idaho defeated the Aggies to open the 2003-04 season with a loss to Idaho, 62-51. Since the reinstatement of the program in the 2003-04 season, the Aggies are 1-5 in conference openers.
Utah State in WAC Openers 2005-06 L, vs. San Jose State, 51-63 2006-07 L, vs Boise State, 70-80 2007-08 W, vs. San Jose State, 68-58 2008-09 L, at Idaho, 63-71
SUPER SEVEN - Senior guard Ana Pares has had an explosive senior season. With 20 points in the overtime loss to Louisiana Tech on Jan. 10, she has had seven-straight double-digit scoring games. The guard has had two 20-point games this season. Pares topped her career high in points when she scored 25 in a loss to Utah Valley on Jan. 3. Starting the season, her high was 10 points against Portland in 2006. To start this season, Pares scored 11 points once again against Portland for a new career high. This high would not stand long as the senior scored 18 points against Northern Arizona on Nov. 19.
CLOSING IN - Utah State is only two wins away from tying last season's win total, as the Aggies went 9-20 last season. Last year, USU had to wait until the calendar changed to 2008 to get its fourth win, earning its fourth win on Jan. 2, 2008.
LONG-ROAD HOME - After four-straight road games, Utah State returned home on Thursday, Jan. 8 against New Mexico State which was the first of four-straight games at the friendly confines of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
FAMILIAR FIVE - Utah State has been nothing if not consistent. In 16 games this season, the Aggies have started the same five for every game. Danyelle Snelgro, Ana Pares, Alice Coddington, Lydia Whitehead and Nicole Johnson have started all 16 games for USU this season.
SNELGRO REACHES CAREER HIGH AGAIN - Senior guard Danyelle Snelgro tied her career high with 19 points in the loss to Louisiana Tech on Jan. 10. She also scored 19 points as the Aggies defeated Weber State for the first time since 1984 on Dec. 22. Snelgro scored 19 points, 13 in the first half, en route to a 44-41 win over the Wildcats. Her previous high was 18 points at Utah Valley in 2006. Snelgro's point explosion helped the Aggies capture their second road win of the season.
ON THE BOARDS - Utah State is 5-1 when out-rebounding its opponents. In the win against Southern Utah, the Aggies out-rebounded the Thunderbirds, 48-34, including a season-high 27 offensive rebounds. USU had 20 offensive rebounds in the win against Northern Arizona and 50 total.
NIFTY NIKKI - Junior Nicole Johnson is having a solid first half of the season. The forward is third in the WAC in blocks, averaging 2.06 blocks per game, just behind Louisiana Tech's Shanvia Dowdell and San Jose State's Shaunna Ridge. She now has 33 total blocks this season. She has already passed her block total from last season as Johnson ended the 2007-08 season with 22 blocks. The junior is also scoring almost 5.1 points per game well above her career average of 2.1 entering this season. Johnson is now fourth all-time in career blocks with 63.
ENDURANCE AGGIES - Four of the Aggies' five starters are among the leaders in the WAC in minutes played. Danyelle Snelgro is still second behind Idaho's Charlotte Otero, averaging 38.31 minutes per game. Ana Pares is third in the WAC in minutes played, averaging 37.69. Nicole Johnson averages 31.94 mpg which places her 12th, while Alice Coddington rounds out the quartet of fit Aggies. Coddington averages 30.25 mpg, which places her 17th in the WAC.
AGGIES AGAINST EVERYONE - The Aggies rounded out non-conference play against Utah Valley on Jan. 3. Portland State was the fourth team from the Big Sky Conference that the Aggies have faced this season. USU is 2-2 against the Big Sky with a win against Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington and a loss to Idaho State. USU is 0-1 against the Northeast Conference after a loss to Monmouth, while the Aggies hold a 1-0 record against the Southland Conference with a win against Texas State. Finally, the Aggies are 0-1 against the West Coast Conference after a season-opening loss to Portland. USU is now 0-2 against the Mountain West Conference with a loss to BYU on Dec. 13 and a loss to UNLV on Dec. 30. USU played its fifth and final Big Sky Conference team when it defeated Weber State.
Aggies vs. ConferencesBig Sky Conference 3-2Mountain West Conference 0-2Northeast Conference 0-1Southland Conference 1-0Summit League 1-0Non-Division I Opponents 1-0Provisional Division I 0-1West Coast Conference 0-1Total 6-7
USU VS. NEVADA REWIND - The last time Nevada and Utah State met, 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 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 since USU joined the WAC, splitting the season meetings with each team winning on its home court after Nevada's 75-55 win at Reno on Feb. 2.
TURNING 21 - The 2008-09 season marks the 21st year of women's basketball at USU, and just the sixth since the program was restarted prior to the 2003-04 season. The women's hoops program at USU had been disbanded following the 1987 season due to budget cuts. USU is playing in its fourth season in the Western Athletic Conference after playing its first two seasons in the Big West Conference.
GAMETRACKER - Fans can follow Aggie home games through the USU web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com via GameTracker, a free service, which updates play-by-play and statistics throughout the game.
AGGIES IN THE WAC STATS - Utah State remains first in the WAC in scoring defense, holding teams to 59.4 points per game. The Aggies are also second in field goal defense (.367) just behind of Louisiana Tech (.352). USU is still second in blocks, averaging 4.56 blocks per game. Individually, junior Nicole Johnson is third in the WAC in blocks per game, averaging 2.06 bpg. Junior Lydia Whitehead is eighth in field goal percentage (.429). Danyelle Snelgro is second in assists (4.00 apg) and tied for third in steals (2.06 spg).
AGGIES ON THE RADIO/WEB - All Utah State home games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Evan Nyman calling the play-by-play and Ashley Rutledge providing color commentary for home games. They can also be heard on the web by going to the Utah State Athletics home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
ADMISSION - Admission to Utah State's women's basketball games is $5 for adults, $1 for youth. Season tickets are also available $65 for adults and $10 for youth. Contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435)797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for more information or visit the Utah State athletic web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
UTEP THANKSGIVING CLASSIC - Both Danyelle Snelgro and fellow guard Ana Pares were named to the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic all-tournament team as voted on by the tournament's four coaches. Hawk Jennifer Bender was named both Defensive and tournament Most Valuable Player.
COACH PEBLEY - Head coach Raegan Pebley is entering her sixth season as head coach at Utah State, which is the longest tenure in the program's history. Five games into last season, Pebley overtook the lead for the most games coached in Utah State history (116). She has now coached 156 games for the blue and white. Pebley now has 49 wins as Aggie head coach which places her in third in wins just behind of Fern Gardner (55) and just behind Cindy Perkins (51) on the all-time win list.
ON THE INTERNET - All of Utah State's home games are available to watch live through Utah State TV via the internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU fans can also listen to every game both home and away, via USU's web site.
AGGIE ALGEBRA
1-Total number of different starting lineups that the Aggies have started this season Danyelle Snelgro, Alice Coddington, Ana Pares, Nicole Johnson and Lydia Whitehead have started all 13 games this season.
2A-The number of players on the 2008-09 roster hailing from the Beehive state of Utah (Lydia Whitehead and Ana Pares). It is also the number of players from Senegal (Banna Diop and Ndoumbe Diop).
3A-Where junior Nicole Johnson stands in the WAC in blocks per game (2.06) bpg.
4A-The number of seniors leading this year's Aggie squad, including Danyelle Snelgro, Ndoumbe Diop, Shawnta Pope and Ana Pares.
4B-The number of overtime games that Utah State has played this season in eight total games. USU is 2-2 in games last longer than 40 minutes wins over Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington and a losses to BYU and Louisiana Tech. USU is 2-1 in overtime games at home.
5-Total number of players on this year's roster standing 6-0 or taller.
8-Ana Pares had a career-high eight rebounds in a loss to Idaho State on Nov. 22.
10-The number of wins that it would take to pass the nine-win total from 2007-08.
11-Alice Coddington tied a career high with 11 points in the loss to BYU on Dec. 13. She also scored 11 points against Northern Arizona on Dec. 22, 2007.
14-Career high in points by senior Shawna Pope in the loss to Idaho on Jan. 5.
15-Freshman Chelsea Burns had a career-high 15 points in the Aggies win over New Mexico State on Jan. 8.
19-The career-high in points scored by Aggie senior Snelgro in the 44-41 win over Weber State on Dec. 22.
17-Both Ana Pares and Danyelle Snelgro came within one point of their career highs in points scored in the Aggies win against Texas State on Nov. 28. Snelgro duplicated this feat in the loss to Portland State on Dec. 16.
21-The career high number of points Lydia Whitehead scored in an overtime win against Eastern Washington on Dec. 6.
25-Pares scored a career-high 25 points in a loss to Utah Valley. The 25 points were the most scored by the Aggies this season.
49-Head coach Raegan Pebley's win total at the helm of the USU team.
57.4-The amount of points per game Utah State has allowed per game in eight contests this season which is first in the Western Athletic Conference.
176-Snelgro now stands alone as the the all-time steals leader, passing Margaret Johns (1980-83) with 176th steal in the overtime loss to Louisiana Tech on Jan. 10.
272-Number of career assists that Aggie Snelgro has.
921-Total number of points that the Aggies have scored this season.
