Dec. 12, 2009

Box Score

POCATELLO, Idaho - For the second-straight game, the Utah State women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought contest with Idaho State, losing in Pocatello on Saturday, 63-58. USU also fell to ISU on Dec. 5, 56-53, in Tempe, Ariz., at the ASU Classic.

With the loss, USU (3-4) falls below .500 for the first time this season. Idaho State improves to 3-8 with the win. The series between USU and ISU is now tied 13-13.

For the game, Utah State was led by junior LaCale Pringle-Buchanan who scored 14 points for the second-straight game. Junior guard Amber White also scored 14 points, while freshman guard TJ Goddard added nine points in the loss. White has scored in double figures in five of USU's seven games this season.

Idaho State was led by Oana Iacovita's 16 points and four rebounds. Devin Diehl scored 15 points, 12 of which came from behind the arc. Diehl also added eight rebounds for the Bengals.

Utah State, which hasn't played a game since Dec. 5, got off to a hot start, scoring 10 of the first 11 points in the game. The Aggies made their first seven shots of the game, including their first three shots from beyond the arc. USU jumped out to an early nine-point lead, but both teams had solid shooting to begin the game. In the first six minutes of play both teams were 3-of-3 from the three-point line.

An Ashley Vella basket with 10:38 left in the first half gave the Bengals their first lead of the game 20-18. ISU used a 6-0 run to get back into the game. Junior guard LaCale Pringle-Buchanan came off the bench to provide a first-half spark for Utah State, scoring eight points in her first 10 minutes of action.

Utah State took a 25-24 lead off a Coddington basket and would hold onto the lead for the rest of the half. USU would enter the locker room with a slim 30-29 lead.

In the first half, USU was led by Pringle-Buchanan's eight points, while freshman guard TJ Goddard scored seven. On the boards, the Aggies were led by Goddard's four rebounds. Senior forward Nicole Johnson two blocks in the first half.

In the second half, USU took an eight-point lead, 38-30, after five-straight points from White and a three pointer from Coddington. White came in alive in the second half after getting in to early foul trouble in the first half. White scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half.

The Aggies opened up an 11-point lead half way through the second half, 45-36. Devin Diehl kept the Bengals in the game with back-to-back three pointers. The sharp-shooting of Diehl helped shrink the USU lead to 49-46. Diehl ended with four three-pointers in the game. A 14-0 run would help ISU re-take the lead 52-49 after an Iacovita lay up. The run was stopped by a Nicole Johnson basket with 3:23 left in the second half.

The Bengals tied its biggest lead of the game, 57-51, with 1:23 left in the game after an Andrea Videbeck lay up. A White three-pointer and two free throws from Pringle-Buchanan would cut the lead down to one, 59-58, but the Aggies would get no closer.

Utah State dominated in points in the paint out-scoring Idaho State, 24-16, while the Bengals out-scored the Aggies, 21-14, in points off of turnovers. For the game, USU shot 42.9 percent from the field (21-of-49) and a season-high 53.8 percent from the three-point line. The Aggies also shot a season-high 75 percent from the free throw line (9-of-12). Idaho State shot 41.7 percent from the field (20-of-48) and 50 percent from the three-point line (7-of-14). ISU ended the game shooting 80 percent from the free throw line, making 16-of-20.

Following the game against the Bengals, Utah State returns home to begin a three-game homestand, starting with a Noon game with North Dakota State on Monday, Dec. 14. The game against the Bison is School Day where elementary and middle school kids can come to the game, complete worksheets and earn prizes.

Utah State also continues its Aggie Incentive Plan which allow fans to earn points for attending women's basketball games. Aggie fans can accumulate points throughout the season and earn prizes like USU water bottles, clothing and a USU women's team autographed basketball.

Live stats will be available for most Utah State women's basketball games through the women's basketball page on www.utahstateaggies.com, by clicking on GameTracker in the current events box. All home games can be viewed by clicking on "Watch Live", while they can be heard by clicking on "Listen Live." Both can be accessed on www.utahstateaggies.com on the front page or the women's basketball page.

For tickets 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.