Utah State women's basketball (0-0) officially opens the 2019-20 campaign this week as the Aggies host Portland (0-0) on Thursday, Nov. 7 , at 11 a.m., followed by Seattle (0-0) on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m., in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

UTAH STATE IN SEASON OPENERS
Utah State is 8-21 in season openers. Last season, the Aggies defeated Washington State on the road, 72-61, in their opening game.

USU IN HOME OPENERS
Utah State is 13-16 in home openers, including winning three-straight and five of the last six. Last season, the Aggies posted a 106-35 victory over Northern New Mexico College in their home opener. The 71-point win against the Eagles marked the largest margin of victory in program history.

HOW TO FOLLOW
This week's games will be broadcast by the Mountain West Network. Radio coverage will be provided by 92.3 KBLU with Jaden Johnson on the call. Live stats and play-by-play information will be available through Sidearm, while updates will also be provided through the team's social media outlets. Links to each option will be available online prior to the game.

SCOUTING THE PILOTS
Portland leads Utah State, 3-2, in the all-time series. In the 2018-19 season, the Pilots averaged 74.0 points per game, shooting 41.8 percent (783-of-1,874) from the field, 32.6 percent (250-of-766) from the 3-point line and 74.1 percent (403-of-544) at the free throw line. Sophomore guard Haylee Andrews is Portland's top offensive returner after averaging 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists during the 2018-19 campaign.

Defensively, the Pilots allowed 75.8 points per game in the 2018-19 season, with opponents shooting 43.3 percent (852-of-1,967) from the field, 33.5 percent (225-of-671) from behind the arc and 71.3 percent (346-of-485) at the free throw line. Senior guard Kate Andersen is the top returning steal leader after averaging 1.4 steals per game, while sophomore forward Liana Kaitu'u averaged 0.3 blocks per game.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Seattle leads Utah State in the all-time series, 2-1, though the Aggies won the last meeting, 67-62, on Feb. 2, 2013. During the 2018-19 season, Seattle averaged 61.4 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent (664-of-1,707) from the field, 31.3 percent (173-of-553) from behind the 3-point line and 68.0 percent (342-of-503) at the free throw line. Senior guard Kamira Sanders is the Redhawks' top offensive returner after averaging 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists during the 2018-19 season.

Defensively, the Redhawks allowed 70.9 points per game in the 2018-19 season, with opponents shooting 43.4 percent (787-of-1,815) from the floor, 28.6 percent (144-of-503) from behind the arc and 68.4 percent (410-of-599) at the free throw line. Sanders is the top returning steal leader after averaging 1.9 thefts per game, while senior post Joana Alves averaged 0.9 blocks per game.

EXHIBITION ACTION
Utah State defeated Arizona Christian, 90-56, in its sole exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 2. Every Aggie that played scored in the matchup, while five players scored in double figures. Senior guard/forward Hailey Bassett led the way with 21 points, followed by senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker with 17. Senior forward Marlene Aniambossou had 11 points, while junior guard Emmie Harris and sophomore guard Steph Gorman rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points apiece. 

HELPING HANDS
Utah State recorded 24 assists on 31 field goals in their 90-56 exhibition win over Arizona Christian (Nov. 2). Sophomore guard Steph Gorman led the Aggies with seven helpers, while senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Taylor Franson each dished out four assists. 

CRASHING THE BOARDS
USU out-rebounded Arizona Christian, 47-32, in the 90-56 exhibition victory (Nov. 2). Senior forward Marlene Aniambossou led the way with nine rebounds, while both senior guard/forward Hailey Bassett and sophomore guard Steph Gorman snagged six boards apiece.

AGGIE RETURNERS
Utah State returns five letterwinners from the 2018-19 squad, including two starters. Headlining the returners include senior guard/forward Hailey Bassett, who averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game during the 2018-19 season, and sophomore guard Steph Gorman, who averaged 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. 

AGGIE RETURNERS - PART II
Other returners for Utah State include senior forward Marlene Aniambossou and senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker. In 2018-19, Aniambossou averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, while Jensen-Baker averaged 1.7 points and 0.4 rebounds per game. Junior Emmie Harris averaged 2.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game during her sophomore campaign, while sophomore forward Emma Dudley averaged 1.0 rebounds and 0.7 points per game as a freshman. 

BACK IN ACTION
Redshirt sophomores guard/forward Taylor Franson and center Laura Daulton will be back in action for the Aggies after redshirting the 2018-19 season.

FRESH(MEN) FACES
The Aggies welcome four freshmen to the 2019-20 roster in guards Faith Brantley (Tacoma, Wash.), Elli Emrich (Bonn, Germany), Kamalu Kamakawiwo'ole (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Jocelyn Polansky (Wallingford, Conn.). 

WELCOME ABOARD
Utah State added six new faces to the 2019-20 roster. On top of the four incoming freshmen, the Aggies welcomed junior guard Leah Dougherty (Rexburg, Idaho) who joins the team after spending her first two seasons at Big Bend Community College. Sophomore guard Shyla Latone (San Diego, Calif.) transferred to Utah State after playing her freshman campaign at Cleveland State. Latone will redshirt for the Aggies in the 2019-20 season.

WELCOME ABOARD - PART II
The Aggies added assistant coach Rod Jensen to the staff over the summer. Jensen came out of retirement after serving for three years as a women's assistant coach at Washington State, along with current Aggie assistant coach Ashley Gill. Prior to his time on the women's staff at WSU, Jensen spent 30 years of coaching on the men's side of the basketball. Jensen is known as a defensive-minded coach and will take over that portion of the game plan for the Aggies.

HOME GROWN
Utah State has three players from the state of Utah in senior guard/forward Hailey Bassett (Layton, Utah), senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker (Smithfield, Utah) and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Taylor Franson (American Fork, Utah).

INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
Four continents are represented on the Utah State roster as the team has 11 players from the United States, while senior forward Marlene Aniambossou is from Cotonou, Benin, sophomore guard Steph Gorman is from Wodonga, Victoria, Australia, and freshman guard Elli Emrich is from Bonn, Germany. 

ADVENTURAS EN COZUMEL
In August, the Utah State women's basketball team had the opportunity to travel to Cozumel, Mexico. During the trip, the Aggies played local teams, participated in various clinics and toured the island of Cozumel.