Jan. 26, 2010

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's women's basketball team has, surprisingly, only one player from the state of Utah on its roster. Thanks to a transfer from the University of Utah a couple years ago, Aggies' senior center Lydia Whitehead has found her way back to Cache Valley where she grew up. Growing up in Nibley, Whitehead now gets to play close to home, but has found plenty of diversity on the women's basketball team.

Utah State has players from eight different states (including Utah), and three players from out of the country.

"It's fun that we have a lot of diversity on the team, it brings a lot of different personalities together," Whitehead said. "I think it's great that I get to play in front of my family and friends every night. Not all the girls on the team get to have that opportunity. I think that¹s a lot of fun that I can help out on my hometown school."

Whitehead originally signed with Utah after playing her high school ball at Mountain Crest. She eventually chose to come to Utah State after her sophomore year at Utah.

"Every college has its own personality and sometimes you just have to find a place that you fit in and find a niche. Utah has great coaches and has a great program, but I felt I could have a better niche somewhere else, and I came here," the Aggie transfer said.

Although she is always among the top of many statistics for the Aggies, Whitehead has always focused on rebounding and defense. Last year she led the team and was 12th in the WAC with 191 rebounds for 6.2 per game, and was second on the team with 31 blocks.

"I try to focus on rebounding because I know that that is something I can do every game, "Whitehead said. "I feel like offense is at least as important, but sometimes you¹re not connecting and shots aren¹t falling but defense and rebounding you can control every night, so that¹s something that I personally challenge myself to do."

Whitehead said that she found a basketball role model, while playing at Utah. She was a teammate of Leilani Mitchell, who is now playing in the WNBA with the New York Liberty.

"Her (Mitchell) poise and her personality and the way she plays I've always admired; she is so consistent, I wish I could be like that,' the senior stated.

Along with being a standout on the hardwood at Mountain Crest, Whitehead excelled on the volleyball court as well. By the time she was a sophomore in high school she had colleges talking to her for volleyball and basketball. She would soon have scholarship offers to Utah State, Utah and BYU in both basketball and volleyball. She then had to decide which sport and school to attend.

"I guess it came down to the fact that I like basketball a little more. When I was a junior, I had to pick which one I wanted to play and at the time I liked basketball better," Whitehead said.

Right now Whitehead is just enjoying playing her final season as an Aggie and not wanting to think too much about anything after that.

She said, "right now it¹s just eating and sleeping and playing basketball, so I don¹t know after that."

Whitehead has been doing plenty of schoolwork in between the eating, sleeping, and basketball. She is expected to get a master's degree in corporate wellness in July. She has already earned her bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies.