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Utah State women's basketball (10-7, 5-1 Mountain West) hosts New Mexico (16-2, 6-1 MW) on Australia Day, Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m., in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum

FROM THE LAND DOWN UNDER
USU has five Aussies on its 2018-19 roster in senior guard Rachel Brewster (Melbourne, Australia), junior guard/forward Shannon Dufficy (Preston, Australia), junior guards Eliza West (Mount Martha, Australia) and Olivia West (Launceston, Australia), and freshman guard Steph Gorman (Wodonga, Australia). New Mexico has a pair of Australians on its team in redshirt junior forward Bride Kennedy-Hopoate (Brisbane, Australia) and freshman guard/forward Ahlise Hurst (Bendigo, Australia).

PUT ANOTHER SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE
New Mexico (16-2, 6-1 MW) has won four-straight, including an 80-77 overtime win over UNLV on Wednesday. The Lobos lead the overall series, 17-6, against Utah State. This season, New Mexico averages 76.2 points per game, while shooting 41.5 percent (506-of-1218) from the field, 30.3 percent (131-of-433) from behind the arc and 64.7 percent (229-of-354) at the free throw line. Three Lobos average double figures in scoring in senior center Jaisa Nunn (15.4 ppg), redshirt junior guard Aisia Robertson (15.1 ppg) and freshman guard Jayla Everett (13.8 ppg). Nunn also leads the team on the glass, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, while Robertson leads the team in assists, averaging 7.3 helpers per game.

Defensively, opponents are averaging 62.1 points against the Lobos, shooting 35.8 percent (409-of-1144) from the floor, 26.6 percent (103-of-387) from the 3-point line and 66.6 percent (197-of-296) at the free throw line. Senior forward Nike McClure leads the team in blocks, averaging 2.8 per game, while Robertson leads the team in steals at 2.6 per game.

HARD YAKKA PAYS OFF
Utah State is off to its best start in conference action (5-1) since joining the Mountain West. The last time the Aggies started 5-1 in conference play was during the 2011-12 season in the WAC, when USU finished 11-3 in league play. 

PLAYING FOR SHEEP STATIONS
Utah State, New Mexico, Fresno State and Boise State are in a tight race at the top of the Mountain West standings as Boise State remains undefeated, while the three other squads have each lost one conference game. Saturday's Utah State and New Mexico matchup will find the No. 1 defense in the conference (Utah State - allows 57.8 ppg) taking on the No. 2 offense in the Mountain West (New Mexico - 76.2 ppg). 

CRIKEY, THAT'S GOOD
Utah State ranks first in scoring defense in the conference and 49th in the nation, allowing 57.8 points per game. The Aggies are third in the conference and 34th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.274), and third in the league and 70th in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.372). In conference play, the Aggies are first in scoring defense (55.7 ppg), first in field goal percentage defense (.345) and second in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.256).

BONZER IN THE SECOND QUARTER
Utah State has outscored its opponents, 120-58, in the second quarter in Mountain West play. In the last three games, USU outscored Wyoming, 16-6, San José State, 29-8, and Colorado State, 28-12, in the second period. Because of the second quarter effort, the Aggies have led at the half in every conference game this season. 

GOOD ON YA
Utah State shut down Wyoming, which at the time was leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, behind the arc in its 50-42 victory (Jan. 12). Wyoming entered the game shooting 43.7 percent (111-of-254) from long range. The Aggies held the Cowgirls to a season-low 19.0 percent (4-of-21) from deep, and also held Wyoming to a season low from the field as the Cowgirls shot 32.7 percent (16-of-49) from the floor for a season-low 42 points.

GOOD ON YA - PART II
Utah State ranks third in the conference and 34th in the nation in 3-point field goal defense. Against the Aggies, opponents are shooting 27.4 percent (198-of-285) from behind the arc. The Aggies have held 11 of their opponents to under 30 percent from long range, nine to 25 percent or under and four to 20 percent or lower. 

GIVE ME A DOUBLE VEGEMITE
Junior guard/forward Shannon Dufficy has recorded 23 double-doubles during her career at Utah State, the most since women's basketball was reinstated in 2003 with 22. The program record in career double-doubles was set by Sharon Epps (1982-83) with 31. 

GIVE ME A DOUBLE VEGEMITE - PART II
Dufficy has posted 11 double-doubles this season to rank first in the Mountain West and 12th in the nation. She is currently averaging a double-double at 16.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while averaging 20.0 points and 12.8 boards in conference play. Dufficy's 11 double-doubles this season tie for seventh in single-season double-doubles, with the record of 17 set by Sharon Epps in the 1981-82 season.

STREWTH, LOOK AT THAT STREAK
Dufficy has recorded seven-straight double-doubles, including in all six Mountain West games. Dufficy's seven-straight double-doubles tie for the longest consecutive double-double streak in program history. 

THAT'S CORKER
Dufficy has pulled down at least five rebounds in all but one game this season, and has had 11 games collecting double-digit boards. She has led the team in rebounding in each of the last eight games and 10 of the last 11. Dufficy averages 10.3 rebounds per game to rank first in the Mountain West and 32nd in the nation. Dufficy has totaled 175 rebounds this season to rank first in the conference and 34th in the nation.

NOT WITHIN COOEE
As a team, Utah State has out rebounded its last two opponents by more than 20 boards. The Aggies outrebounded Colorado State by 25 (45-20) and San José State by 21 (51-30). USU has outrebounded one other opponent this season by more than 20 after grabbing 23 more boards (54-31) than Northern New Mexico College. 

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