Utah State women's basketball (7-20, 2-14 MW) will wrap up its regular season with a pair of Mountain West games as the Aggies take on San José State (16-11, 10-6 MW) in a road contest on Monday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. (MT). USU then returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum for its regular season finale against New Mexico (14-15, 5-11 MW) on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. Utah State's three seniors, Marlene Aniambossou, Hailey Bassett and Lindsey Jensen-Baker, will be honored prior to Thursday's tip as part of Senior Night.
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 StatBroadcast for Monday's game and Sidearm for Thursday's contest. Links to each option will be available online prior to the game.
STARTING THE WEEK OFF RIGHT
Utah State is an undefeated 3-0 in games played on a Monday. In their Monday contests, the Aggies have defeated Long Beach State, 56-48 (Nov. 18), Dixie State, 61-49 (Dec. 2), and North Texas, 66-55 (Dec. 16).
ANIAMBOSSOU GAINING STEAMSenior forward Marlene Aniambossou has scored in double figures in each of the last eight games, and has collected five or more rebounds in six of those contests. Aniambossou hit the game-winning bucket in the 58-56 victory at Boise State (Feb. 8), and was perfect from the field in the 67-61 loss to Colorado State (Feb. 12) with a career-high 18 points, hitting 5-for-5 from the field, including 2-for-2 from behind the arc, and 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Aniambossou's two 3-pointers against the Rams were her first makes from behind the arc in her career.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Utah State leads San José State in the all-time series, 18-12. However, the Spartans have won each of the last two meetings, including a 76-61 win in Logan, Utah, on Dec. 4. This season, San José State averages 75.2 points per game, while shooting 41.6 percent (729-of-1,754) from the field, 36.0 percent (205-of-569) from behind the arc and 76.7 percent (366-of-477) at the free throw line. The Spartans are led by sophomore guard Ayzhiana Basallo with 19.0 points and 4.8 assists per game, and junior forward Tyra Whitehead with 10.0 rebounds per game.
Defensively, SJSU allows 72.4 points per game, with opponents shooting 40.3 percent (735-of-1,822) from the floor, 29.5 percent (190-of-645) from behind the 3-point line and 70.1 percent (296-of-422) at the free throw line. Whitehead leads the Spartans with 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE LOBOS
Thursday's game will mark the first meeting between Utah State and New Mexico this season. All-time, New Mexico leads Utah State, 19-6, and has won each of the last seven contests. This season, the Lobos average 76.3 points per game, while shooting 40.1 percent (818-of-2,040) from the field, 31.2 percent (238-of-762) from behind the arc and 73.4 percent (339-of-462) at the free throw line. New Mexico is led by sophomore guard/forward Ahlise Hurst with 13.8 points per game, senior forward Jordan Hosey with 8.3 rebounds per game and redshirt senior guard Aisia Robertson with 5.4 assists per game.
Defensively, New Mexico allows 72.3 points per game, with opponents shooting 41.7 percent (773-of-1,854) from the floor, 36.8 percent (211-of-574) from behind the 3-point line and 71.6 percent (340-of-475) at the free throw line. Robertson leads the Lobos in steals with 2.0 per game, while junior guard/forward Antonia Anderson leads in blocks with 1.3 per game.
1,000-POINT CLUB
Senior forward Hailey Bassett became the 10th Aggie to score 1,000 points in her career after scoring 12 points against Boise State (Jan. 18). Bassett currently sits at the No. 7 spot in the career record books with 1,109 points. She needs 30 more points to pass Taylor Richards (2005-08) for the No. 6 spot.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Bassett played in the 100th game of her Aggie career in the 83-62 loss at Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 20). Bassett, who has never missed a game in her collegiate career, is tied for the No. 5 spot in the career record books with 122 games played.
KNOCKING IT DOWN FROM DOWNTOWN
Sophomore guard Steph Gorman has made 61 3-pointers this season to rank No. 4 on the single-season record list. Gorman is just the second Aggie to have made 50-plus 3-pointers in back-to-back seasons after making 54 in her freshman campaign. Devyn Christensen (2010-13) is the only other Aggie to make more than 50 3-pointers in back-to-back seasons with 107 makes in the 2012-13 campaign and 64 in the 2011-12 season for the top two spots on the single-season record list.
KNOCKING IT DOWN FROM DOWNTOWN - PART II
Gorman is third on the career record list with 115 made 3-pointers. She needs 13 more makes to pass Jennifer Schlott (2011-14) for the No. 2 spot.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
Senior forward Hailey Bassett ranks third in the Mountain West in blocks per game, averaging 1.33 per game on the season, and is fifth in league play, averaging 1.19 blocks per game.
NOT IN MY HOUSE - PART II
Bassett has totaled 100 blocked shots as an Aggie to rank sixth in the USU career record books. Bassett is just the sixth Aggie to record 100 blocks in program history.
I'LL TAKE THAT
Sophomore guard Steph Gorman ranks third in the Mountain West and ranks 71st in the nation in steals per game this season, averaging 2.23 thefts per contest. Gorman ranks 55th in the nation in total steals with 58 on the season.
BREAKOUT SEASON
Senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker has been having a breakout senior campaign as she has scored in double figures in 19 of the 27 games of the 2019-20 season, including 12 straight to open the season. After averaging 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds per game over her first three seasons, Jensen-Baker is averaging 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a senior. Jensen-Baker has scored 20-plus points in three games, including a career-high 32 points against North Texas (Dec. 16), and recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds against Dixie State (Dec. 2).
CONSISTENT SCORERS
The Aggies have had at least three players score in double figures in all but nine of Utah State's games this season. Senior forward Hailey Bassett (13.4 ppg) has scored in double figures in 22 games, senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker (12.1 ppg) has scored in double figures in 19, senior forward Marlene Aniambossou (9.6 ppg) has scored in double figures in 15 and sophomore guard Steph Gorman (10.1 ppg) has scored in double figures in 14 outings.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Four Aggies are averaging at least 4.0 rebounds per game in senior forward Hailey Bassett (5.4 rpg), senior forward Marlene Aniambossou (5.4 rpg), sophomore guard/forward Taylor Franson (4.3 rpg) and senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker (4.1 rpg).
CRASHING THE BOARDS - PART II
Utah State has collected 299 offensive boards on the season, and has capitalized on the second-chance opportunities for 270 points compared to opposition's 259. The Aggies are led on the offensive glass by senior forward Marlene Aniambossou (2.5 orpg), redshirt sophomore guard/forward Taylor Franson (2.0 orpg), senior forward Hailey Bassett (1.6 orpg) and senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker (1.5 orpg).
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