AGGIE TIP-OFF
Utah State women's basketball (5-8, 0-3 MW) hits the road for three Mountain West contests in one week The Aggies open the road trip at Boise State (4-9, 0-2 MW) on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 2 p.m. USU then takes on San Diego State (7-7, 1-2 MW) in California on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. (MT). Utah State wraps up the week at UNLV (11-4, 3-1 MW) on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 5 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 (Boise State/San Diego State) and Sidearm (UNLV) 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.
 
AGGIES VERSUS BRONCOS
Sunday's game will mark the 40th meeting between the Aggies and the Broncos. Boise State leads the all-time series, 28-11, including a 13-5 mark in games played in Boise. 
 
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Boise State is 4-0 in the 2021-22 season, including 0-2 in Mountain West action. The Broncos have not played in 2022 after having its games against Wyoming and Nevada postponed. Boise State averages 62.8 points per game while shooting 40.6 percent (309-of-762) from the field, 28.9 percent (66-of-228) from behind the arc and 61.4 percent (132-of-215) at the free throw line. Boise State has allowed 62.5 points per game with opponents shooting 38.6 percent (293-of-759) from the floor, 32.0 percent (72-of-225) from behind the 3-point line and 72.1 percent (155-of-215) at the free throw line.
 
Two Broncos average double figures in scoring this season in redshirt senior guard Dominique Leonidas (10.5 ppg) and sophomore forward Abby Mus (10.0 ppg). Muse leads Boise State in rebounds (7.2 rpg), steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (1.2 bpg), while sophomore guard Mary Kay Naro leads the team in assists (4.2 apg).
 
AGGIES VERSUS AZTECS
Thursday's game will mark the 18th meeting between the Aggies and the Aztecs. SDSU leads the all-time series, 10-7, including a 6-2 mark in games played in San Diego.
 
SCOUTING THE AZTECS
San Diego State holds a 7-7 mark in the 2021-22 season, including 1-2 in conference play. The Aztecs average 62.0 points per game while shooting 39.5 percent (329-of-832) from the field, 34.8 percent (86-of-247) from behind the 3-point line and 63.6 percent (124-of-195) at the free throw line. SDSU has allowed 62.8 points per game with opponents shooting 37.7 percent (307-of-815) from the floor, 30.8 percent (97-of-315) from behind the arc and 71.5 percent (168-of-235) at the free throw line.
 
Two Aztecs are averaging double figures in 2021-22 in senior guard Sophia Ramos (14.4 ppg) and redshirt freshman guard Asia Avinger (11.0 ppg). Ramos and Avinger also lead the team in assists, as the duo each averages 3.2 assists per game, while Ramos leads the team in rebounds (5.4 rpg) and steals (2.1 spg). Sophomore center Kamaria Gipson leads the Broncos in blocks with 1.2 per game.
 
AGGIES VERSUS LADY REBELS
Saturday's game will mark the 31st meeting between Utah State and UNLV. The Lady Rebels lead the all-time series, 26-4, including a 17-0 mark in games played in Las Vegas.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY REBELS
UNLV is 11-4 in the 2021-22 season, including 3-1 in Mountain West action. The Lady Rebels are averaging 75.0 points per game, shooting 44.1 percent (41-of-930) from the floor, 35.2 percent (96-of-273) from behind the arc and 71.8 percent (209-of-291) at the free throw line. UNLV has allowed 65.3 points per game with opponents shooting 40.8 percent (372-of-911) from the field, 34.0 percent (103-of-303) from behind the 3-point line and 75.6 percent (133-of-176) at the free throw line.
 
Three Lady Rebels average double figures in scoring in sophomore center Desi-Rae Young (16.2 ppg), junior guard Essence Booker (14.3 ppg) and sophomore forward Nneka Obiazor (11.1 ppg). Young leads the team in rebounds (7.5 rpg), while Booker leads in assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Junior center Keyana Wilfred leads UNLV in blocks with 0.7 per game.
 
HIGH FLYERS
Through 13 games, Utah State's scoring average of 69.3 points per game ties for the program's seventh-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.
 
THREE'S COMPANY
Utah State is currently shooting 30.4 percent from 3-point range this season which would be the 10th-best 3-point shooting percentage in Aggie history. The Aggies have converted 7.1 3-pointers per game so far this season which would narrowly trail the 2012-13 season for most made 3-pointers per game (7.7).
 
THREE'S COMPANY - PART II
USU is 4-1 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 threes 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.
 
FREE FOR THE TAKING
Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa is currently ranked 37th nationally in both free throws made (52) and free throw percentage (88.1), also ranking fourth in the Mountain West in the respective categories. 
 
As a team, Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West in free throw makes per game (13.77) and in total free throw attempts per game (18.54). The Aggies' current mark of 74.3 percent at the charity stripe ranks fifth all-time in program history.
 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Eight different Aggies have scored in double-figures this season, led by senior guard Kaylin Randhawa with 10 double-figure outings. Senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford has scored and graduate forward Laci Hawthorne have scored in double figures six times each in 2021-22.
 
GLASS CLEANERS
Utah State averages 39.1 rebounds per game to rank ninth all-time in program history. USU ranks third in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (39.1) and are second in the MW in rebounds per game in league play (43.67). 
 
Three Aggies rank in the top-20 in the conference in rebounds per game in junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada (7.55 rpg), graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (5.55 rpg) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (5.23 rpg). Stafford is tied for fifth in rebounds per game in league play (10.00), while Hawthorne ranks 14th (7.67).
 
GIVING THEMSELVES A SECOND CHANCE
The Aggies lead the Mountain West in offensive rebounds per game at 13.46 and tie for first in conference play with 13.00 offensive rebounds per game. USU has made the most out of these opportunities as the Aggies have outscored their opponents 182-158 in second chance points.
 
Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada ranks second in the MW in offensive boards per game at 3.09, while graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (2.55 rpg) ranks seventh. In league play, Hawthorne is tied for seventh in the MW with 3.00 offensive rebounds per game, while senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford is tied for 11th at 2.67 o-boards per game.
 
DISHING IT OUT
USU registered a season-high 21 assists on 29 made field goals in the 98-83 loss to New Mexico (Jan. 6). Seven Aggies dished out multiple assists in the game, led by senior points Manna Mensah and senior guard Emmie Harris who dropped five dimes each.
 
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 offensive rebounds per game (13.46, 1st), free throws made per game (13.77, 2nd), free throws attempts per game (18.54, 2nd), rebounds (39.08, 3rd) and scoring (69.31, 3rd).
 
Utah State also ranks in the top-five in multiple individual categories in the MW as senior guard Kaylin Randhawa ranks third in scoring (16.08 ppg) and fourth in free throw percentage (88.1). Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada ranks second in offensive rebounds per game (3.09 orpg) and fifth in rebounds per game (7.55 rpg).
 
CLOSING IN ON HISTORY
Senior guard Emmie Harris enters this week's play having suited up 122 times for the Aggies to tie for sixth all-time in Utah State history. Harris will have the chance to pass numerous Aggies this season, given good health. Former USU standouts Hailey Bassett, Rachel Brewster and Jennifer Schlott hold the all-time record with 126 games played in an Aggie uniform.
 
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 (122) and senior forward Taylor Franson (96). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne has appeared in 111 career games, including 11 at Utah State. Three more Aggies are closing in on 100 career games in senior guard Kaylin Randhawa (93), senior point guard Manna Mensah (93) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (90).
 
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).