Jan. 24, 2012

LOGAN, Utah - TIP OFF - Utah State women's basketball hits the road after a brief two-game home stand. The Aggies (12-6, 3-1 WAC) went 1-1 at home with a win against Nevada and a loss to first-place Fresno State. USU has only one game this week, traveling to Moscow to take on Idaho (5-15, 0-4 WAC) on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (MT). Junior guard Devyn Christensen has been leading Utah State of late with three-straight 20-point games, including a season-high 22 in the home win against Nevada.

USU Notes vs. Idaho

WINNING IN WAC ACTION - Devyn Christensen has been leading the Aggies since WAC play has started. In the four conference games, she is averaging 19.0 points per game. She is also shooting 60.4 percent (29-of-48), during that time span. She has also added six assists and six steals as USU has gone 3-1 to start WAC play.

THE OPPONENT - Idaho (5-15, 0-4 WAC) is 12-8 against Utah State in 20 meetings. The Aggies hold an 8-5 advantage since both teams have been in the Western Athletic Conference. Last season, Utah State won both meetings, winning, 70-64, in Logan and, 67-51, in Moscow. When USU beat Idaho last year in Logan, junior center Banna Diop scored a career-high 22 points in the win. The Aggie bench dominated out-scoring the Vandals 27-0.

Idaho lost its fourth-straight WAC game and seventh overall to Nevada on Monday, Jan. 23, falling 76-70 in Moscow. Alyssa Charlston led the team with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Despite the loss, four different Vandal scored in double figures.

The Vandals have one player averaging in double figures in Charlston, who averages 13.9 points per game. She is also Idaho's leading rebounder, averaging 8.1 rpg. Idaho scores 58.9 ppg, while allowing 67.0 ppg. The Vandals are second in the WAC in field goal percentage defense (37.5 percent).

AGGIES VS IDAHO IN THE WAC2005-06Idaho 54, USU 51 (in Moscow)USU 63, Idaho 53 (in Logan)2006-07USU 78, Idaho 70 (in Logan)USU 57, Idaho 53 (in Moscow)2007-08Idaho 70, USU 64 (OT) (in Moscow)Idaho 67, USU 55 (in Logan)2008-09Idaho 71, USU 63 (in Moscow)USU 70, Idaho  64 2OT (in Logan)USU 59, Idaho 58  OT (in Reno, Nev. @ the WAC Tournament)2009-10USU 57, Idaho 55 (in Moscow)Idaho 54, USU 53 (in Logan)2010-11USU 70, Idaho 64 (in Logan)USU 67, Idaho 51 (in Moscow)Overall Record: 8-5

RECORD SETTING AGGIES - In Utah State's win over Nevada on Jan. 21, the Aggies set a school record for field goal percentage in a game, shooting 58.6 percent from the field (34-of-58). The record was previously held by the 1982 Aggie squad that shot 58.3 percent against New Mexico State in 1982. In that game, Utah State defeated New Mexico State, 105-98.

BEST WAC START - The Aggies are off to their best WAC start since joining the league for the 2005-06 season. Utah State is off to 3-1 start through the first four conference games. Last year, USU began league action with a 2-2 record. The Aggies have wins over New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech on the road and a win over Nevada at home. USU's only loss game against first-place Fresno State.

HIGH FLYING AGGIES - In Utah State's win against Nevada on Jan. 21, USU scored a 91 points which was its second-highest scoring performance of the season for the Aggies after scoring 97 points against Boise State on Nov. 23. For the first time this season, six different players scored in double figures led by 22 points from Devyn Christensen. Ashlee Brown (12), Maddy Plunkett (11), Jennifer Schlott (11), Banna Diop (10) and Franny Vaaulu (10) all scored in double digits. This was only the second time this season that USU has scored 90 or more points this year.

DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS - The Aggies and the Bulldogs of Fresno State are the only two teams in the WAC to reach double figures in wins with USU winning 12 games and Fresno State capturing 15 overall wins this season. Last year at this time, USU was 8-10.

SWEET SATURDAY - The Aggies have played over a third of their games on Saturday's this season, as this Saturday's game against Idaho will be USU's eighth Saturday game, more than twice as many as any other day. Utah State is currently 5-2 in Saturday games and have only played three times on both Wednesday and Thursday, going 2-1 overall on both days.

    Sun.     Mon.    Tues.  Wed.    Thurs.  Fri.    Sat.    0-1 1-0 1-0 2-1 2-1 1-1 5-2

SHARING THE LEAD ROLE - USU has had five different players lead the team in scoring, led by Ashlee Brown taking the honors eight times, followed by Devyn Christensen six times and Brooke Jackson doing so in four games. Banna Diop and Maddy Plunkett have been leading scorers in one game each. AGGIES IN WAC OPENERS - Utah State is now 4-3 in WAC openers winning the last three on the road at New Mexico State in 2012 and at Louisiana Tech in 2010 and at home against Boise State in 2011. This was the first time since USU joined the league that the Aggies of Utah State faced the Aggies of New Mexico State in a league opener. Utah State is now 2-1 in WAC openers on the road.

USU IN WAC OPENERS (4-3)2005-06 L, vs. San Jose State, 51-632006-07 L, vs. Boise State, 70-802007-08 W, vs. San Jose State, 68-582008-09 L, at Idaho, 63-712009-10 W, at Louisiana Tech, 69-662010-11 W, vs. Boise State, 69-572011-12 W, at New Mexico State, 74-56

AGGIES IN THE NCAA STATS - In the most recent NCAA Statistics (Jan. 22), Utah State is now 10th in the nation in free-throw percentage, shooting 78.0 percent from the charity stripe. Delaware is now first in the nation, shooting 82.4 percent. The Aggies are 14th in the country in three-point field goal percentage (37.5 percent). Loyola Chicago leads the nation, shooting 40.2 percent from three.

In the latest RPI the Aggies are ranked 138 which is second in the WAC behind Fresno State which is 63.

AROUND THE WAC - Fresno State is the only team in the WAC undefeated in conference action with a 3-0 record. Utah State is second with a 3-1 mark, while Hawai`i and San Jose State are tied for third with 3-1 records. Louisiana Tech and Nevada are fifth and sixth, respectively. New Mexico State is seventh with a 1-3 record,while Idaho is last with an 0-4 record. The Bulldogs received votes in the AP poll this week, holding an overall record of 15-4.

PEBLEY REACHES A MILESTONE - USU head coach Raegan Pebley reached a milestone with her 100th career win against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 14. Pebley is in her ninth season at Utah State and is first in career wins for a women's basketball coach at USU.

AMONG THE BEST IN THE WAC - Ashlee Brown is still fourth in the WAC in scoring behind San Jose State's Brittany Johnson, Nevada's Kate Kevorken and Fresno State's Ki-Ki Moore. Johnson is averaging 19.1 points per game, while Brown averages 14.7 ppg. Brown is third in the league in rebounding with 8.8 rpg. Senior Maddy Plunkett is first in the league in three-point shooting (.491). Brooke Jackson is still first in free throw percentage (.871). Devyn Christensen is now second in the league in free throw percentage, shooting 85.5 percent.

As a team, USU is second behind Fresno State in scoring offense, averaging 71.4 points per game. The Aggies and the Bulldogs are the only two teams in the league with positive scoring margins with Fresno State standing +9.2 and USU holding a +6.1. The Aggies are still first in free throw percentage (78.0). USU is still first in field goal percentage, shooting 44.2 percent this season. Utah State is also first in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.

GIVING A HELPING HAND - For the third time this season sophomore guard Jennifer Schlott dished out five assists in a game in USU's win against New Mexico State on Jan. 12. One difference in this game was that the guard played only five minutes. She is first on the team in assists with 40 in 17 games so far this season.

AGAINST THE BEEHIVE STATE - Utah State ended non-conference play with a 2-1 record against teams from the Beehive State USU earned a 73-63 win against Weber State on Nov. 16. The Aggies then fell to BYU 73-65 on Dec. 17. USU improved to 2-1 against the state of Utah with a 61-43 win against Utah Valley on Jan. 7.

UP NEXT - Utah State will now embark on a three-game road trip, which is its longest WAC road trip of the season. Next week, the Aggies have only one game in Moscow, Idaho against Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (MT). The following week, USU remains on the road to take on San Jose State on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. (MT) and Hawai`i on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11 p.m. (MT).

AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN WEST - Utah State is now 3-0 against the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming was the first of two Mountain West Conference teams that the Aggies faced this season. The Aggies earned home and road wins against former WAC foes and current MWC rivals Boise State. USU defeated the Broncos, 97-86, in Logan on Nov. 23 and won in Boise, 64-52, on Dec. 22.

SINKING IT FROM THE STRIPE - Utah State continues to be stellar from the free throw line. The Aggies are still in the top 10 in the nation in free throw percentage, standing in 10th this week. USU has made more free throws (294) than its opponents have attempted (283). USU is first in the WAC, shooting 78.0 percent from the free throw line (294-of-377). The Aggies opponents are shooting 68.9 percent from the charity stripe (192-of-283).

STARTING FIVE- In 18 games this season, Utah State has used five different lineups. Ashlee Brown is the only Aggie to have started all 18 games this season. Jenna Johnson has been in the starting give for 13 of USU's 18 games. Jennifer Schlott has started nine out of 16 games, while Brooke Jackson has been in the starting five eight times. Chelsea Burns started the first four games of the season until an injury ended her season. Freshman Elise Nelson earned her first career start against BYU on Dec. 17. Nine different players have started at least one game this season for USU. The Aggies have had the same starting lineup, Nelson, Brown, Johnson, Devyn Christensen and Maddy Plunkett the last nine games.

BRINGING THE DEFENSE - Utah State is 6-0 when it opponents score under 60 points or less. The Aggies have wins against Wyoming, Northern Arizona, Boise State, Asbury, Utah Valley and New Mexico State. Utah State has allowed less than 56 points in its last five games all of which are USU wins.

AGGIES LOSE BURNS TO INJURY - Utah State women's basketball junior guard/forward Chelsea Burns has been medically disqualified due to a knee injury. The injury is similar to the one that kept her out of the entire 2009-10 season.

Burns, a native of Carlsbad, Calif, started the first four games of the season and played in five this season. She averaged 10.8 minutes. 0.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The junior has been diagnosed with an osteochondral defect and a meniscus tear and will have knee surgery on December 15. Burns graduated at the end of the fall semester with a degree in law and constitutional studies and will begin her master's of education next semester.

HOME OPENERS - Utah State is now 8-14 in home openers and 3-6 under Coach Pebley after the Aggies defeated Weber State, 73-63 on Nov. 16.Prior to the win over the Wildcats, the last time the Aggies won a home opener was a 67-58 win against in-state rival Utah in 2009. Last season, USU fell to Dixie State in its home and season opener, 71-67. Under Coach Pebley, Utah State is 1-2 against Weber State in home openers.

LAST TIME OUT - Behind a school-record field-goal percentage, the Utah State women's basketball team cruised past Nevada, 91-69, Saturday at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies shot 58.6 percent from the field which breaks the school record which was 58.3 percent against New Mexico State in 1982.

The 91 points was the second-most points this season for the Aggies after scoring 97 against Boise State on Nov. 23 at home.

With the win, USU improves to 12-6 overall and 3-1 in Western Athletic Conference action. The Wolf Pack fall to 4-13 overall and 0-2 in league play. The 3-1 conference start is the best ever for Utah State in its seven seasons in the WAC.

The Aggies had a season-high six players reach double figures, including a career high 10 points from freshman forward Franny Vaaulu. Utah State was led by junior guard Devyn Christensen's 22 points. Senior forward Ashlee Brown added 12 points and seven rebounds to go along with four assists, three blocks and one steal. Senior forward Maddy Plunkett and junior guard Jenna Johnson added 11 points, while junior center Banna Diop added 10.

The Wolf Pack were led by 23 points from Kate Kervoken, who also added five boards and three assists. Amanda Johnson added 12 points, while Chanelle Brennan scored 10.

CAREER HIGHS FROM BROWN - Senior forward Ashlee Brown has had double-doubles in both of Utah State's games this season. She also added a career-high 31 points in the Aggies' loss to South Dakota State on Nov. 13. She also set a career high with six steals in the loss to the Jackrabbits.

ADMISSION - Admission to Utah State's women's basketball games is $5 for adults, $1 for youth. A woman's sports pass is also available for $50. 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.

TURNING 24 - The 2011-12 season marks the 24th year of women's basketball at USU, and just the ninth 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 seventh season in the WAC after playing its first two seasons in the Big West Conference.

AGGIES IN THE PRESEASON POLLS - Utah State women's basketball was selected second in the Western Athletic Conference coaches' poll and third in the media poll. Both predictions are the highest for USU since joining the WAC. Last season, the Aggies were picked seventh in both the coaches' and the media poll.

Senior forward Ashlee Brown made Utah State women's basketball history by becoming the first Aggie to earn WAC Preseason Player of the Year honors when she was awarded the honor by both the coaches and the media. Brown, who averaged 15.2 points per game last season, is the top scorer returning in the WAC. Last season, Brown was the WAC's Newcomer of the Year and earned first-team all-WAC honors. The Aggies received 40 points in the WAC coaches' poll, including two of the eight first-place votes. Defending WAC regular season-champion, Louisiana Tech, was picked first with 47 points, including five-first place votes. Fresno State, the 2011 WAC Tournament champions, was picked third with 36 points and the final first-place vote. Nevada placed fourth with 33 points, followed by Hawai`i with 22 points. New Mexico State was picked to finish in sixth place with 18 points, while Idaho was just a point behind with 17 points to finish in seventh place. The coaches' poll was rounded out by San Jose State in eighth place with 11 points.

In the media poll, Utah State was voted third with 126 points, including three first-place votes. As with the coaches' poll, Louisiana Tech was picked first with 144 total points and 13 first-place votes. The only difference between the polls was that Fresno State took second-place in the media poll with 129 points and three first-place votes. Nevada earned the fourth spot with 80 points, followed by Hawai`i with 72. The media poll was rounded out with New Mexico State in sixth with 59 points, while Idaho (52 points) and San Jose State (22 points) were picked to finish seventh and eighth, respectively.

AGGIES ON THE RADIO/WEB - All Utah State games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Craig Hislop taking the reigns this season. They can also be heard on the web by going to the Utah State Athletics home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clink on the "Listen Live" link in the right hand column.

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.

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.

HEAD COACH Raegan Pebley - Raegan Pebley is entering her ninth season as head coach at Utah State, which is the longest tenure in the program's history. Five games into the 2007-08 season, Pebley overtook the lead for the most games coached in Utah State history (116). She has now coached 252 games for the Blue and White and has 101 wins as Aggie head coach, which is first ahead of Fern Gardner (55) on the all-time win list.