March 6, 2009
LOGAN, Utah -
Fresno State (20-8, 11-4 WAC) at Utah State (15-13, 9-6 WAC)Saturday, Mar. 7, 4:30 p.m. MT • Logan, UtahDee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270)Broadcast: KLGN 1390 AMwww.UtahStateAggies.com
TIP OFF - Utah State closes out the regular season against first-place Fresno State on Saturday, March 7 as the first half with the USU men's basketball team. The Aggies are in a four-way tie for third place with Boise State, Idaho and Nevada at 9-6. The seeds for the upcoming WAC Tournament will be determined following the final four WAC games on Saturday. USU will honor its four seniors in their final regular season game. Ndoumbe Diop, Ana Pares, Shawnta Pope and Danyelle Snelgro will all be honored. Snelgro continues to lead USU in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game. She reached a milestone on Thursday with her 1,00th point. She now has 1,009 points as an Aggie and is the sixth player to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
Complete Release in PDF Format 
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE - Fresno State is currently tied for first place in the WAC standings with Louisiana Tech with 11-4 league records. The Bulldogs are looking for their first outright WAC title after sharing the regular season crown with Boise State last season. Fresno State won the WAC Tournament title last season as the top seed. Senior night turned out to be a memorable evening for the Fresno State women's basketball team as the Bulldogs defeated New Mexico State 69-52 on Wednesday evening at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State is now 20-8 and 11-4 in the WAC while New Mexico State dropped to 9-20 and 5-10.
The 20 wins is the programs ninth 20 win season in the 44-year history of the program and they can win at least a share of the WAC championship with a win at Utah State on Saturday. Senior Bailey Amundsen scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 shooting from the three-point line and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. LaToya Brown earned her second career start in her final home game and she played a career-best 22 minutes, scoring six points and dishing out four assists. Fresno State under the direction of head coach Adrian Wiggins is 20-8 overall and 11-4 in the WAC. The Bulldogs are the only 20-win team in the conference. Fresno State continues to be led by Jalessa Ross who averages 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Sharp-shooter Hayley Munro is second averaging 10.7 ppg, while Bailey Amundsen averages 10.5.
AGGIES VS FRESNO STATE IN THE WAC2005-06Fresno State 60, USU 58 (in Logan)Fresno State 70, USU 52 (in Fresno)
2006-07USU 81, Fresno State 75, (in Logan)Fresno State 70, USU 61 (in Fresno)
2007-08Fresno State 69, USU (in Fresno)USU 44, Fresno State 40, (in Logan)
2008-09Fresno State 59, Utah State 68 (Fresno)
Overall Record 2-5
SNELGRO TOPS IN THE WAC - Senior guard Danyelle Snelgro is still ahead fellow senior Dellena Criner of Nevada in steals, averaging 2.57 steals per game just ahead of Criner's 2.25 spg. Snelgro is first with 72 steals. In assists, Criner has the edge, averaging 4.36 assists per game. Snelgro is second with 4.18 apg.
ALL THE POSSIBILITIES - The final day of the WAC regular season will determine all but three seeds in the upcoming WAC Tournament. Utah State can finish as high as third or as low as sixth depending on the final day of play.
Utah State 3 If Utah State beats Fresno State and Boise State beats Idaho 4 If Utah State beats Fresno State and Idaho beats Boise State OR If Utah State loses to Fresno State, Hawai`i beats Nevada and Idaho beats Boise State 5 If Utah State loses to Fresno State, Hawai`i beats Nevada and Boise State beats Idaho OR If Utah State loses to Fresno State, Nevada beats Hawai`i and Idaho beats Boise State 6 If Utah State loses to Fresno State, Nevada beats Hawai`i and Boise State beats Idaho
GETTING INVOLVED - In Utah State's win over San Jose State on March 5, four Aggies scored in double figures. It was the third time this season that a quartet of Aggies had scored in double figures. The last time was also against the Spartans in San Jose on Jan. 23. The first time it happened was at home against New Mexico State on Jan. 8.
TOURNEY TIME - The WAC Basketball Tournament will be held from March 10-14 in Reno, Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center on the campus of the University of Nevada. This will be the Aggies fourth WAC Tournament, and the Aggies are in search of their first tournament win. Last season, Utah State was the seventh seed in the WAC Tournament. In 2007, USU was the sixth seed which was the highest seed it had ever had. In the first season in the WAC, the Aggies were the ninth seed and played in the First Round game. This is the third time that Nevada has hosted the WAC Tournament after playing as host in both 2005 and 2006. The last time the tournament was held in Nevada, Louisiana Tech defeated New Mexico State, 63-39. It was the last time that the Lady Techsters earned a WAC Tournament title.
HARD TO SAY GOODBYE - Utah State will say "thank you" to its four seniors at the final regular season game against Fresno State. Danyelle Snelgro and Ana Pares both played four years at USU, while Ndoumbe Diop and Shawnta Pope were Aggies for two years. The Aggies will also say "goodbye" to four-year manager, Carly Bleadorn at the conclusion of the season.
DANDY DANNY - Danyelle Snelgro has been red hot the last few weeks. She has had three 20-point games in the last five Aggie outings. When Snelgro is the leading scorer, USU has won 10 games this season. Snelgro's red hot scoring has now put her third in the WAC in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game.
SEASON OF FIRSTS - Utah State continues to have several firsts this season, including sweeping Boise State for the first time since joining the WAC. USU had not even beaten the Broncos in WAC action until the win in Logan earlier this season. When the Aggies defeated Nevada in Reno on Feb. 8, it was the first they had won at the Lawlor Events Center.
MORE FIRSTS - With one games left to play and a 9-6 conference record, the Aggies will have their best finish ever in the Western Athletic Conference. In 2006-07, USU was 7-9 in the WAC which was good for sixth which was its best finish since joining the league for the 2005-06 season. Last season, the Aggies were 5-11 and finished seventh. In 2005-06, USU was 2-14 which placed it in ninth. USU is guaranteed to finish no worse than 9-7.
300 CLUB - With six assists in the Aggies win over Boise State on Feb. 20, senior guard Danyelle Snelgro became just the second Utah State women's basketball player to reach the 300 club with assists. Snelgro now has 325 career assists. The all-time Aggie leader in assists is Taylor Richards with 371.
1,000 CLUB - Danyelle Snelgro netted a team-high 13 points Thursday night, reaching the 1,000 career point plateau with a steal and layup at the 1:25 mark of the first half. She becomes just the sixth member of USU's 1,000 point club and joins former teammate Taylor Richards, the last Aggie to reach the mark a season ago. Snelgro now has 1,009 points, needing 12 more to tie Pam Shirley (1977-79) for No. 5 on the USU career scoring list with 1,021 points. She also had game highs of six steals and five assists Thursday.
CHANGING IT UP - In the first 21 games of the season, the Aggies started the same five for every game. Danyelle Snelgro, Ana Pares, Alice Coddington, Lydia Whitehead and Nicole Johnson started the first 21 games for USU this season. In the 22nd game against Fresno State, head coach Raegan Pebley made a change. Freshman Chelsea Burns made her first start of the season, while Whitehead came off the bench.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN - Senior forward Shawnta Pope became the fourth Aggie this season to have a double-double when she scored 10 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Louisiana Tech on Feb. 28. Both Danyelle Snelgro and Lydia Whitehead both had two double-doubles. Alice Coddington also had a double-double. Coddington had a breakout game against Idaho on Feb. 22 when she scored 10 points and brought down 14 rebounds which is one shy of career high.
SWATTING THE RECORD BOOKS - Several Aggies are forging their way into the Utah State record book, with 54 blocks this season, junior forward Nicole Johnson is already in the top 10 in the all-time single season list. She is now in second, passing Ali Marchant who had 38 blocks in the 2005 season and Jessica Freeman who had 48 in both 2006 and 2005. With 72 steals and 117 assists, senior guard Danyelle Snelgro now in the top 10 in both categories. She is sixth in third and fourth in assists. Junior forward Lydia Whitehead is also close to making the top 10 in blocks. Her 28 blocks this season is eighth.
JOHNSON SECOND IN CAREER BLOCKS - With 83 career blocks, junior forward Nicole Johnson is now second in the Aggie record book for career blocks. The all-time block leader is Jessica Freeman (2003-06) who swatted 127 balls for Utah State. This season, Johnson has 49 blocks.
LAST TIME OUT - Four players in double-figures, sparked by Danyelle Snelgro topping the 1,000 career point plateau, helped Utah State to a 62-51 win over San Jose State Thursday night in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball action at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, giving the Aggies their most overall wins since 1972-73. USU improved to 15-13 overall, the Aggies' most wins since the first season of USU women's basketball in 1972-73, as well as moving into a four-way logjam for third-place in the WAC standings with a 9-6 league ledger. The Aggies have their best WAC mark in their fourth season in the conference, and is its best league mark since 2004-05 with nine Big West wins. SJSU lost its 14th in a row in falling to 2-27 overall and 1-15 in WAC action. USU had four players in double-figures for just the second time this season, joining the last game vs. San Jose State on Jan. 23 at San Jose, Calif. Snelgro netted a team-high 13 points Thursday night, reaching the 1,000 career point plateau with a steal and layup at the 1:25 mark of the first half. She becomes just the sixth member of USU's 1,000 point club and joins former teammate Taylor Richards, the last Aggie to reach the mark a season ago. Snelgro now has 1,009 points, needing 12 more to tie Pam Shirley (1977-79) for No. 5 on the USU career scoring list with 1,021 points. She also had game highs of six steals and five assists Thursday. Junior forward Lydia Whitehead logged her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Fellow junior forward Nicole Johnson tied her season-high with 10 points as well as a game-best five blocks, while senior guard Ana Pares tossed in 10 points.
UNLUCKY 13? - Senior guard Ana Pares had her double-digit scoring streak stopped at 13 in the Aggies' win against Nevada on Feb. 8. She came close, scoring eight points in the win. Pares returned to form with 16 points against Boise State on Feb. 20, 12 points against Idaho on Feb. 22 and 14 points against NMSU on Feb. 26. She also added 10 points against SJSU on Mar. 5. The guard has had three 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.
SNELGRO REACHES CAREER HIGH AGAIN - With 29 points in the win against Nevada on Feb. 8, senior guard Danyelle Snelgro broke her career high in points scored. The 29 points were the most scored by an Aggie this season.
SNELGRO HONORED AGAIN - Danyelle Snelgro has been named the Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week as well as American First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week for Feb. 16-22. This is the second WAC Player of the Week honor for Snelgro. The senior from Altadena, Calif., led the Aggies to a come-from-behind win over third-place Boise State and a double overtime victory over second-place Idaho. In the road win over Boise State, Snelgro led the Aggies from an 18-point deficit to a four-point win, scoring 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting and adding six assists. In the win over the Vandals, she was one point shy of her career high, finishing with 28 points on 11-of-20 from the field. This is the second time she has earned the America First Credit Union Utah State Athlete of the Week honor. Snelgro is the third women's basketball player to be honored this season. Senior guard Ana Pares has been honored twice, while junior forward Lydia Whitehead earned the award once.
ON THE BOARDS - Utah State is 12-1 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. In the win against Boise State, USU had 20 offensive rebounds in the win against Northern Arizona and 50 total. USU earned its sixth win when out-rebounding its opponents against Boise State on Jan. 17. In the Aggies overtime win over Idaho on Feb. 22, USU totaled 49 rebounds, including 19 offensive boards.
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. Snelgro now has 215 career steals and 66 this season.
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 325. Taylor Richards is the all-time assists leader with 371. Snelgro is second in the league in assists, averaging 4.15 apg. In WAC games, Snelgro is first in assists with 78 helps for an average of 5.20 apg.
AGGIES IN OPENERS- Utah State began its fourth season in the WAC on 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
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 37.64 minutes per game. Ana Pares is third in the WAC in minutes played, averaging 36.46. Alice Coddington averages 32.18 mpg which places her 11th, while Nicole Johnson rounds out the quartet of fit Aggies. Johnson averages 30.50 mpg, which places her 17th in the WAC.
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 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 167 games for the blue and white. Pebley now has 57 wins as Aggie head coach which is first ahead of Fern Gardner (55) on the all-time win list.
AGGIE ALGEBRA
1-The number of times that the Aggies swept Boise State since joining the WAC.
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).
2B-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 22 games this season. Against Fresno State, Chelsea Burns replaced Whitehead.
3A-The number of 20 point games Danyelle Snelgro has had in her last five games.
3A-The number of times this season that a quartet of Aggies has scored in double figures in wins against New Mexico State and San Jose State (2).
4-The number of seniors leading this year's Aggie squad, including Danyelle Snelgro, Ndoumbe Diop, Shawnta Pope and Ana Pares.
5A-Total number of players on this year's roster standing 6-0 or taller.
5B-The number of overtime games that Utah State has played this season in 26 total games. USU is 3-2 in games last longer than 40 minutes wins over Idaho, Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington and losses to BYU and Louisiana Tech. USU is 2-1 in overtime games at home.
5C-With 10 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Louisiana Tech on Feb. 10, Shawnta Pope became the fourth Aggie to record a double-double this season. Danyelle Snelgro (2), Lydia Whitehead (3) and Alice Coddington have all recorded double-doubles this season.
8-Ana Pares had a career-high eight rebounds in a loss to Idaho State on Nov. 22.
9-The most WAC wins the Aggies have ever had. The most ever conference wins by a USU squad is 11 by the 1974-75 team in the Intermountain Athletic Conference.
10-The number of wins that it took to pass the nine-win total from 2007-08.
12-Alice Coddington broke her career high of 11 points scored with a dozen scored in USU's win against San Jose State.
14-Career high in points by senior Shawnta 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.
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.
29-Danyelle Snelgro scored a career-high 29 points in the Aggies win over Nevada on Feb. 8. It is the most points scored by an Aggie this season.
57-Head coach Raegan Pebley's win total at the helm of the USU team.
54-The number of blocks that junior forward Nicole Johnson has this season. It is the second most in Aggie history behind the 70 that Jill Swainston had in 1987.
117-The 117 assists that Danyelle Snelgro has this season are the fourth most in USU history. The all-time single-season leader is Charrise Bremond who had 169 assists in 1985.
215-Snelgro now stands alone as the all-time steals leader, passing Margaret Johns (1980-83) with 176th steal in the overtime loss to Louisiana Tech on Jan. 10.
325-Number of career assists that Aggie Snelgro has. She is one of only two Aggie to reach the 300-assist mark along with Taylor Richards.
366-Total number of points scored by senior Ana Pares which is second on the Aggies. In the first three years of her career, she scored 146 points.
1,577-Total number of points that the Aggies have scored this season. USU has allowed only 1,561 points.
