LOGAN, Utah – Utah State junior guard Sam Merrill has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Feb. 24, it was announced on Monday. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
It is the third time this year that Merrill has been recognized as USU's student-athlete of the week. With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
Merrill (Bountiful, Utah) led Utah State to a 2-0 Mountain West record last week with a 71-55 home win against New Mexico and a 78-71 road win in overtime at Boise State. Against the Lobos, Merrill finished second on the team with 13 points and added five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 39 minutes of play. Against the Broncos, Merrill scored 21 of his game-high 32 points in the first half and was a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line in the final minute of play to force overtime. Merrill, who played a career-high 45 minutes, also finished with a career-high-tying eight rebounds to go along with a team-high three assists. For the week, Merrill averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 32.4 percent (12-of-37) from the floor, 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from behind the 3-point line and 100.0 percent (13-of-13) at the free throw line.
Utah State will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 26, when the Aggies welcome San Diego State to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The game is slated to tip at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network.
Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – Senior guard Rachel Brewster (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) led Utah State to a 1-1 Mountain West record last week after a 74-56 loss at New Mexico and an 81-68 home win against league-leading Boise State. Against the Lobos, Brewster recorded 20 points, two rebounds and two steals, while shooting 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from the field, 33.3 percent (1-of-3) from behind the arc and 100.0 percent (1-of-1) at the free throw line. Against the Broncos, Brewster tied her career high of 22 points, to go along with seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block, while shooting 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the field and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) at the free throw line. For the week, Brewster averaged 21.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game, while shooting 50.0 percent (17-of-34) from the field, 25.0 percent (1-of-4) from behind the 3-point line and 77.8 percent (7-of-9) at the free throw line.
GYMNASTICS – Senior Madison Ward-Sessions (Rexburg, Idaho) won the all-around title and floor crown last weekend as Utah State defeated Alaska Anchorage 194.925-192.675. Ward-Sessions recorded a 39.200 in the all-around, scoring a 9.750 on vault to place third, a 9.725 on bars to tie for fourth, a 9.800 on beam to capture fourth and a 9.925 on floor to win the event. With her two titles against the Seawolves, Ward-Sessions now has 34 in her career, which is tied for sixth all-time in school history. Furthermore, her floor title gives her 18 in her career, which is tied for second all-time.
SOFTBALL – Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Reed (Santa Fe, Texas) led Utah State to a 3-2 record at the Silicon Valley Classic last weekend, as the Aggies defeated Montana (11-1 (5)), CSU Bakersfield (14-0 (5)) and Santa Clara (6-1), while falling to Ball State (5-2) and Northern Colorado (9-5). Against the Grizzlies, Reed had one defensive putout. Against the Roadrunners, she was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including two doubles, to go along with one run scored and three RBIs, while adding one putout. Against the Broncos, Reed batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs and four putouts. Against the Cardinals, she was 1-for-4 at the plate with three putouts. And, in the tournament finale against the Bears, Reed batted 1.000 (4-for-4), tying the single-game school hits record. She also scored one run and had one putout in the game. On the weekend, Reed hit a team-best .562 (9-of-16) with two doubles. She scored two runs and tallied five RBIs, while adding 10 putouts in center field.
MEN'S TENNIS – Freshman Isaac Arturo Arevalo (Mazatlan, Mexico) posted a combined 2-0 record last week as Utah State beat UC Santa Barbara, 4-2, in a neutral court match in Des Moines, Iowa. Against the Gauchos, Arevalo beat No. 25 ranked Joseph Guillin at the No. 1 spot (1-6, 6-2, 6-3) for his first-career win against a ranked opponent and the first-ever top-25 win in school history. Arevalo also teamed with sophomore Jose Carvajal in doubles play, capturing a 6-4 win at the No. 1 spot.
WOMEN'S TENNIS – Freshman Sidnee Lavatai (Murray, Utah) posted a combined 5-1 record last week as Utah State posted a 1-2 record with a 4-3 home loss against Idaho, a 5-2 neutral court loss against UTSA in El Paso, Texas and a 4-3 road win at UTEP. Against the Vandals, Lavatai claimed the straight-sets win at the No. 6 spot (7-6 (3), 6-1) and teamed with sophomore Alexandra Pisareva for a 6-3 win at the second doubles position to clinch the team point. Against the Roadrunners, Lavatai and Pisareva posted a 6-3 victory at the No. 2 spot. And against the Miners, Lavatai captured a pair of 6-4 victories at the No. 6 spot and teamed with Pisareva for a 7-6 win on court two to clinch the doubles point.
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD – Sophomore Hunter Simonsen (Kaysville, Utah) won the high jump at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships, held last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M., with a career-best mark of 2.18 meters (7-01.75), which is tied for fourth all-time in school history. Simonsen helped USU to a third-place team finish.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD – Junior Maia Garren (Logan, Utah) set a school record in the weight throw with a personal-best heave of 19.49 meters (63-11.50), placing second in the event at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships, held last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M. Garren, who also placed fourth in the shot put with a toss of 16.18m (53-01.00), helped the Aggie women to a sixth-place team finish.
2018-19 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 3 – Jordan Love, Football
Sept. 10 – Dominik Eberle, Football
Sept. 17 – Isaac Arturo Arevalo, Men's Tennis
Sept. 24 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 1 – Adam Hendrickson, Men's Cross Country
Oct. 8 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 15 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 22 – Corinne Larsen, Volleyball
Oct. 29 – Jordan Love, Football
Nov. 5 – Darwin Thompson, Football
Nov. 12 – Cierra Simmons, Women's Cross Country
Nov. 19 – David Woodward, Football
Nov. 26 – Sam Merrill, Men's Basketball
Dec. 3 – Quinn Taylor, Men's Basketball
Dec. 10 – Shannon Dufficy, Women' Basketball
Dec. 17 – Jordan Love, Football
Dec. 22 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Jan. 7 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Jan. 14 – Madison Ward-Sessions, Gymnastics
Jan. 21 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Jan. 28 – Cierra Simmons-Mecham, Women's Track & Field
Feb. 4 – Sam Merrill, Men's Basketball
Feb. 11 – Isaac Arturo Arevalo, Men's Tennis
Feb. 18 – Madison Ward-Sessions, Gymnastics
Feb. 25 – Sam Merrill, Men's Basketball
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