AGGIE TIP-OFF
Utah State women's basketball (6-12, 1-7 MW) travels to California this week for a pair of road games as the Aggies take on San José State (3-15, 0-7 MW) in San Jose on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. (MT). USU then travels to Fresno to face Fresno State (7-11, 3-4 MW) on Saturday, Jan. 29., at 3 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Radio coverage will be provided by 92.3 KBLU with Ajay Salvesen on the call. Live stats and play-by-play information will be available through StatBroadcast, 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.
 
TRUE-BLOODED AGGIE
Senior guard Emmie Harris set the program record for career games played after making her 127th appearance in  an Aggie uniform in the 76-66 victory against Wyoming on Jan. 22. 
 
LEADERS IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
The Aggies rank in the top-three in several statistical categories in the Mountain West in the 2021-22 campaign, including free throws made per game (12.61, 2nd), offensive rebounds per game (12.83, 3rd), turnovers forced per game (15.94, 3rd), free throw attempts per game (17.22, 3rd) and blocks (3.00, t-3rd). 
 
Utah State also ranks in the top-10 in various individual categories in the MW as junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada is third in offensive rebounds per game (3.06 orpg), fourth in rebounding (7.94 rpg) and eighth in defensive rebounds per game (4.88 drpg). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne ranks sixth in blocks (0.88 bpg) and eighth in offensive rebounds per game (2.56 orpg). Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa ranks fifth in free throw percentage (.838) and ninth in scoring (13.88 ppg), while senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford is tied for seventh in blocks (0.83 bpg).
 
AGGIES VERSUS SPARTANS
Thursday's game will mark the 33rd meeting between the Aggies and Spartans. USU leads the all-time series, 18-14, however, SJSU leads 9-6 in games played in San Jose. The Aggies' last victory in San Jose was a 78-65 win on Jan. 4, 2014.
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
San José State is 3-15 this season, including a 0-7 mark in Mountain West play, and has lost each of its last 12 games. The Spartans average 59.5 points per game while shooting 35.2 percent (377-of-1,071) from the floor, 28.8 percent (112-of-389) from behind the arc and 73.2 percent (205-of-280) at the free throw line. SJSU has allowed 77.1 points per game with opponents shooting 45.4 percent (515-of-1,134) from the floor, 35.7 percent (150-of-420) from behind the 3-point line and 73.8 percent (208-of-282) at the free throw line.
 
Junior guard Ella Ogier and senior forward Cydni Lewis lead the Spartans with 11.6 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Lewis also leads the team with 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, while Ogier leads with 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. 
 
AGGIES VERSUS BULLDOGS
Saturday's game will mark the 32nd meeting between the Aggies and Bulldogs. Fresno State leads the all-time series, 27-4, including a 13-1 mark in games played in Fresno. The Aggies' lone victory in Fresno was a 52-47 win on Jan. 28, 2017.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Fresno State is 7-11 in 2021-22, including 3-4 in MW action. The Bulldogs have lost their last three contests with a 78-67 loss to Colorado State, 80-74 loss at New Mexico and 66-57 loss at Air Force. Fresno State averages 69.8 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent (450-of-1,094) from the field, 36.2 percent (138-of-381) from behind the arc and 77.3 percent (218-of-282) at the free throw line. The Bulldogs have allowed 68.6 points per game with opponents shooting 41.7 percent (461-of-1,105) from the floor, 32.9 percent (116-of-353) from behind the 3-point line and 70.5 percent (196-of-278) at the free throw line.
 
Three Bulldogs average double figures in scoring in junior guard Haley Cavinder (19.2 ppg), junior guard Hanna Cavinder (13.8 ppg) and senior forward Wytalla Motta (10.6 ppg). Haley Cavinder also leads the team in rebounds (9.9 rpg) and assists (5.9 apg), while Hanna Cavinder leads in steals (1.8 spg). Senior forward Amiee Book leads Fresno State in blocks per game with 0.5.
 
HIGH FLYERS
Through 18 games, Utah State's scoring average of 67.2 points per game stands as the program's 10th-highest season average and the highest mark since averaging 77.3 points per game in the 2013-14 season. In the Aggies' first two games of the year, an 83-78 win over Westminster followed by an 85-75 victory of Cal State Fullerton, Utah State topped the 80-point plateau in consecutive games for the first time since reaching the marks versus UC Irvine and Dixie State in November of 2017. 
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Eight different Aggies have scored in double figures this season, led by senior guard Kaylin Randhawa with 12 double-figure outings. Senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford has scored in double figures nine times, while graduate forward Laci Hawthorne and junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada have scored in double figures eight times each in 2021-22. 
 
STARTING CONTRIBUTORS
Utah State's starting lineup has accounted for 71.5 percent (864) of the points and 65.1 percent (416) of the rebounds during the 2021-22 season.
 
BENCH WORK
Utah State's bench has outscored its opponents' 345-323. The Aggie bench has registered 20-or-more points in eight contests, including five games of 30-plus points.
 
A USU bench player has scored in double figures 12 times this season and has led the team in scoring in four matchups. Junior guard Shyla Latone posted the best performance by an Aggie off the bench this season with 23 points in the 73-71 victory at Southeastern (Nov. 27).
 
FREE FOR THE TAKING
Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West in total free throw makes per game (12.61) and ranks third in free throw attempts per game (17.22). The Aggies' current mark of 73.2 percent at the charity stripe ranks sixth all-time in program history.
 
GLASS CLEANERS
Utah State averages 38.33 rebounds per game to rank just outside the top-10 all-time in program history. USU ranks fifth in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (38.33) and is fourth in the MW in rebounds per game in league play (39.13). 
 
Three Aggies rank in the top-20 in the conference in rebounds per game in junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada (7.94 rpg, 4th) and graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (5.31 rpg, 19th) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (5.28 rpg, 20th). Quezada (8.50, t-6th), Stafford (7.13 rpg, 13th) and Hawthorne (5.88 rpg, 18th) also rank in the top-20 in rebounds per game in Mountain West contests.
 
GIVING THEMSELVES A SECOND CHANCE
The Aggies rank third in the Mountain West in offensive rebounds per game at 12.83 and are third in conference play with 11.88 offensive rebounds per game. 
 
Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada ranks third in the MW in offensive boards per game at 3.06, while graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (2.56 orpg) ranks eighth. In league play, Quezada is tied for fifth in offensive rebounds per game (3.00), Hawthorne is 10th (3.14) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford is tied for 15th (2.00).
 
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Half of Utah State's wins this season have been decided by five points or less as the Aggies are 3-1 in such contests. 
 
THREE'S COMPANY
USU is 5-1 this season when shooting better than its opponent from behind the arc. 
 
RAIN MAKER
With seven 3-pointers versus Southeastern, junior guard Shyla Latone now has three of the top-eight performances from behind the arc in Utah State history and two of the top three. The native of San Diego, California, also had six made 3s at San Diego State on Jan. 14, 2021, and tied Devyn Christensen's program record of nine made 3-pointers versus New Mexico on March 1, 2020. 
 
DROPPING DIMES
Senior guard Emmie Harris dished out a career-high 12 assists against Colorado State (Jan. 19), to tie for the third-most assists in a single game in program history. Harris became the first Aggie to drop double-digit assists since Eliza West had 11 at San Diego State on Jan. 27, 2019.
 
DOING THE THIRTY WORK
Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada registered a season-high 30 points against Colorado State (Jan. 19) to tie for 37th in scoring on the single-game record list. 
 
CLOSING IN ON THE CENTENNIAL MARK
Several Aggies have played in or are close to having played in 100 career games. Two Aggies have worn a USU uniform in every game of their respective careers in senior guard Emmie Harris (127) and senior forward Taylor Franson (91). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne has appeared in 116 career games, including 16 at Utah State. Three more Aggies are closing in on 100 career games in senior guard Kaylin Randhawa (98), senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (95) and senior point guard Manna Mensah (94).
 
AGGIE RETURNERS
Utah State returns seven letterwinners from last year's squad. Headlining the returners include senior Emmie Harris, who averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 22 contests. Sophomore guard Meagan Mendazona also returns her 6.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Junior Shyla Latone is USU's leading returning scorer at 9.7 points per game across 24 contests. Other returners for Utah State include sophomore Halle Nelson (4.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), junior Kamalu Kamakawiwo'ole (4.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 apg), sophomore Kinley Falslev (3.4 ppg) and senior Taylor Franson (2.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg). In all, USU returns 65 percent of last season's scoring, 55 percent of last season's rebounds, and 80 percent of last season's assists. Over 68 percent of all minutes played during the 2020-21 season return again for the Aggies this year.
 
TRANSFER-MATION COMPLETE
Utah State added six new faces to the 2021-22 roster via transfer. Sophomore Olivia Wikstrom joins the Aggies after playing her freshman year at Northern Colorado. Junior Adryana Quezada comes to Logan after two years at UTSA. Senior E'Lease Stafford joins USU after three years at East Tennessee State. USU also brings in two transfers from Murray State in seniors Manna Mensah and Laci Hawthorne. Senior Kaylin Randhawa also joins the team after spending three seasons at Pacific.
 
WELCOME TO THE PARTY
The Aggies made several changes to the coaching staff for the 2021-22 season. Jauwan Scaife remains as assistant coach while also taking on the responsibility of recruiting coordinator. Taylor Ignoto officially joins the staff as an assistant coach after spending last season as the director of basketball operations. Marc Wilson also joins as an assistant coach, bringing 21 years of Division-I coaching experience with him. Claire Gritt makes her coaching debut as graduate manager after concluding her playing career at Denver, which included three seasons under current USU head coach Kayla Ard.
 
PACIFIC PIPELINE
Utah State's 2021-22 roster presents a plethora of Pacific flair, with five players joining USU from Pacific-coast states (Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii). Sophomore Olivia Wikstrom (Bainbridge Island) calls Washington home. Junior Shyla Latone (San Diego) and senior Kaylin Randhawa (Turlock) come from California. Sophomore Meagan Mendazona (Monmouth) represents Oregon while junior Kamalu Kamakawiwo'ole hails from Hawaii.
 
HOME GROWN
Utah State has four players from the state of Utah in senior forward Taylor Franson (American Fork, Utah), sophomores Halle Nelson (American Fork, Utah) and Kinley Falslev (Benson, Utah), and redshirt freshman Amit Lustgarten (Salt Lake City, Utah).
 
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