AGGIE TIP-OFF
Utah State women's basketball (7-13, 2-8 MW) returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum this week as the Aggies host San Diego State (9-11, 3-6 MW) on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m., followed by league-leading UNLV (17-4, 9-1 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 8 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 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.
 
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. She has now appeared in a 129 career games during her five-year Utah State career. 
 
LEADERS IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
The Aggies rank in the top-four in several statistical categories in the Mountain West in the 2021-22 campaign, including free throws made per game (12.3, 2nd), offensive rebounds per game (12.8, 3rd), free throws attempted per game (17.0, 3rd), blocks per game (2.90, 4th) and turnovers forced per game (15.50, 4th). 
 
Utah State also ranks in the top-10 in various individual categories in the MW as junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada is third in field goal percentage (.508), fourth in rebounding (8.00 rpg) and offensive rebounds per game (3.06), and tied for seventh in defensive rebounds per game (4.94). Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa ranks fifth in free throw percentage (.829), eighth in minutes played (32.88) and 10th in steals (1.63 spg). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne ranks eighth in offensive rebounds per game (2.61) and in blocks per game (0.78). Senior guard Emmie Harris ranks seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.90), while senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford ranks ninth in blocks per game (0.75).
 
AGGIES VERSUS AZTECS
Wednesday's game will mark the 19th meeting between the Aggies and Aztecs as SDSU leads the all-time series, 11-7. However, the series is all tied up at 4-4 in games played in Logan. Utah State's last victory over San Diego State was an 81-79 overtime victory in the first round of the 2020 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Women's Basketball Championships on March 2, 2020. The game made MW tournament history as the Aggies became the first No. 11 seed to win a tournament game. 
 
SCOUTING THE AZTECS
San Diego State is 9-11, including 3-6 in MW play, in the 2021-22 season. The Aztecs average 61.8 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent (464-of-1,206) from the field, 34.5 percent (130-of-377) from behind the arc and 65.2 percent (178-of-273) at the free throw line. SDSU has allowed 62.3 points per game with opponents shooting 37.7 percent (438-of-1,162) from the floor, 29.7 percent (133-of-448) from behind the arc and 71.0 percent (237-of-334) at the free throw line.
 
Three Aztecs average double figures in scoring this season in senior guard Sophia Ramos (14.3 ppg), redshirt freshman guard Asia Avinger (11.8 ppg) and junior guard/forward Mallory Adams (10.8 ppg). Adams also leads the team in rebounds (6.3 rpg), Avinger leads in assists (4.0), Ramos leads in steals (2.1 spg) and sophomore center Kamaria Gipson leads in blocks (0.9 bpg).
 
AGGIES VERSUS LADY REBELS
Saturday's game will mark the 31st meeting between the Aggies and Lady Rebels with UNLV leading the all-time series, 27-4, including a 9-4 mark in games played in Logan. USU's last victory against UNLV was a 58-49 win inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Feb. 28, 2017.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY REBELS
UNLV holds a 17-4 mark, including a league-best 9-1 in Mountain West action. The Lady Rebels average 75.9 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent (578-of-1,299) from the field, 34.3 percent (131-of-382) from behind the arc and 74.6 percent (306-of-410) at the free throw line. UNLV allows 64.8 points per game with opponents shooting 40.0 percent (516-of-1,289) from the floor, 31.4 percent (128-of-407) from behind the 3-point line and 75.6 percent (201-of-266) at the charity stripe.
 
Junior guard Essence Booker (15.7 ppg), sophomore center Desi-Rae Young (15.6 ppg) and sophomore forward Nneka Obiazor (11.0 ppg) lead the Lady Rebels in scoring in 2021-22. Booker also leads the team in assists (3.9 apg) and steals (1.7 spg), Young leads in rebounds (7.9 rpg) and junior center Keyana Wilfred leads in blocks (0.6 bpg). 
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Eight different Aggies have scored in double figures this season, led by senior guard Kaylin Randhawa with 13 double-figure outings, senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford with 11 and junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada with 10.
 
STARTING CONTRIBUTORS
Utah State's starting lineup has accounted for 73.4 percent (976) of the points and 67.6 percent (383) of the rebounds during the 2021-22 season.
 
BENCH WORK
Utah State's bench has outscored its opponents' 353-332. 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 (12.3) and ranks third in free throw attempts per game (17.0). The Aggies' current mark of 72.4 percent at the charity stripe ranks seventh all-time in program history.
 
GLASS CLEANERS
Utah State averages 38.70 rebounds per game to rank ninth all-time in program history. USU ranks sixth in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (38.70) and is fourth in the MW in rebounds per game in league play (39.70). 
 
Three Aggies rank in the top-20 in the conference in rebounds per game in junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada (8.00 rpg, 4th) and graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (5.50 rpg, 18th) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (5.39 rpg, 20th). Quezada (8.50, 6th), Stafford (7.20 rpg, 13th) and Hawthorne (5.90 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 12.80. Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada ranks fourth in the MW in offensive boards per game at 3.06, while graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (2.61 orpg) ranks eighth. In league play, Quezada is tied for fifth in offensive rebounds per game (3.00), Hawthorne is tied for seventh (2.80) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford ranks 14th (2.10).
 
ICE IN THE VEINS 
Three of USU's seven wins this season have come in the final seconds of the game. Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa hit two game-winning threes in the final seconds of regulation in the 73-71 victory at Southeastern (Nov. 27) and knocked down another game-winning triple three games later inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in the 66-65 win over Arkansas State (Dec. 8). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne rebounded a missed Aggie free throw with 0.6 seconds left on the clock and put it back to beat the buzzer for the 63-61 victory at San José State (Jan. 27). 
 
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Over half of Utah State's wins this season have been decided by five points or less as the Aggies are 4-1 in such contests. 
 
THREE'S COMPANY
USU is 6-1 this season when shooting better than its opponent from behind the arc. 
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE
Junior guard Adryana Quezada and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford have each registered multiple double-doubles this season with six and three, respectively. Quezada's six double-doubles are tied for third in the Mountain West. Over half of USU's wins this season (four) have come when either Quezada or Stafford register a double-double. 
 
DROPPING DIMES 
Utah State dished out a season-best 22 assists on 25 made field goals in the 63-61 victory at San José State (Jan. 27). The Aggies have dished out double-digit assists 15 times this season, including four games with 20 or more dimes. 
 
DROPPING DIMES - PART II
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.
 
DROPPING DIMES - PART III
Guard Emmie Harris has been the leading helper for the Aggies in the last four games as the senior has dished out at least six assists in each of those contests. Harris nearly registered back-to-back double-doubles after registering nine points and eight assists against Wyoming (Jan. 22) and nine points and nine assists at San José State (Jan. 27). 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
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 (129) and senior forward Taylor Franson (91). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne has appeared in 118 career games, including 18 at Utah State, while senior guard Kaylin Randhawa appeared in her 100th career game at Fresno State (Jan. 29). Two other Aggies are closing in on 100 career games in  senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (97) 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 Owlivia 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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