WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Weekly Aggie Update
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Kyle Cottam - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Tue., Feb. 15--- at San Diego State, 8 p.m. (MT) (CBSSN)
Sat., Feb. 19 --- at Boise State, 4 p.m. (CBSSN)
• Utah State men's basketball (15-11, 6-7 MW) continues its 2021-22 season this week with Mountain West road games at San Diego State 15-6, 7-3 MW) on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. (MT), and at Boise State (19-6, 10-2 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m. USU is 9-14 all-time against SDSU, including a 1-7 road record, but has won four of the last five overall. The Aggies are 34-19 all-time against the Broncos, including a 10-14 road record. Fans can watch both games on the CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221).
Last Week
L, 76-78 (OT) --- at Wyoming
L, 72-85 --- NEVADA
• Utah State dropped a pair of Mountain West games last week with a 78-76 overtime loss at Wyoming, followed by an 85-72 home loss to Nevada. Against the Cowboys, senior forward Brandon Horvath led three Aggies in double figures with 20 points, followed by sophomore guard Steven Ashworth with 16 points and senior forward Justin Bean with a double-double effort of 14 points and 11 rebounds. USU shot 47.6 percent (30-of-63) from the floor, 32.0 percent (8-of-25) from behind the 3-point line and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) at the free throw line. UW shot 50.0 percent (25-of-50) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from behind the 3-point line and 68.8 percent (22-of-32) at the free throw line. Against the Wolf Pack, Horvath scored a career-high 29 points, followed by Bean with 16 points and junior guard Rylan Jones with 11. USU shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the floor, 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from behind the 3-point line and 78.3 percent (18-of-23) at the free throw line. Nevada shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the floor, 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 65.4 percent (17-of-26) at the free throw line.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Wed., Feb. 16 --- at New Mexico, 6:30 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., Feb. 19 --- at Air Force, 1 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State women's basketball (8-16, 3-11 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of road games at New Mexico (20-7, 11-3 MW) on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m., and at Air Force (13-11, 7-6 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. USU is 6-23 all-time against the Lobos and 14-6 all-time against the Falcons. Fans can watch both games via the Mountain West Network, streaming online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
L, 83-86 --- at Colorado State
W, 63-55 --- BOISE STATE
• Utah State split its Mountain West games last week with an 86-83 loss at Colorado State and a 63-55 home win against Boise State. Against the Rams, junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada led the Aggies with her seventh double-double of the season with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Junior guard Shyla Latone (14), senior point guard Manna Mensah (13) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (11) also finished in double figures. USU shot 48.5 percent (33-of-68) from the field, 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from behind the arc and 50.0 percent (8-of-16) at the free throw line. CSU shot 48.6 percent (34-of-70) from the floor, 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from behind the 3-point line and 100.0 percent (11-of-11) at the charity stripe. Against the Broncos, Quezada led the team with a game-high 20 points and stuffed the stat sheet with a team-high seven rebounds to go along with a career-high six steals and two blocks. She was joined in double figures by Latone with 17 points and senior guard Emmie Harris with 12. USU shot 36.4 percent (20-of-55) from the floor, 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from behind the 3-point line and 81.0 percent (17-of-21) at the free throw line. BSU shot 32.8 percent (21-of-64) shooting, the best defensive effort by the Aggies this season. The Broncos also shot 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from behind the 3-point line and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) at the free throw line.
GYMNASTICS
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Fri., Feb. 18 --- at No. 24 Boise State, 7 p.m.
• Utah State gymnastics (7-4, 3-2 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) continues its 2022 season this week when the 21st-ranked Aggies travel to Boise, Idaho, for a conference dual meet against No. 24 Boise State (1-2, 1-2 MRGC) on Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., at ExtraMile Arena.
Last Week
L, 196.800 -196.975 --- at No. 25 Southern Utah
• Following a rough start on bars to begin its top-25 showdown against No. 25 Southern Utah, No. 21 Utah State went 49.250 or higher in its final three rotations. As a result, the Aggies tied the second-highest score in school history with a season-high 196.800. The Thunderbirds won the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference dual meet with a 196.975. The 196.800 turned in by the Aggies is also tied for the second-best road score in school history. Junior Rebecca Wells won the all-around for the third time this season with a career-high 39.300. She also tied for first on vault with a personal-best 9.900, which is tied for eighth all-time in school history. Senior Carley Bayles won her second beam title of the season with a 9.900, while freshman Brie Clark tied for first on floor with a 9.925, as she now has five floor titles on the year, which is tied for 10th in single-season school history on the event. The 48.850 on bars tied a season low for the Aggies. Sophomore Brianna Brooks and junior Maia Fishwick led USU on the event as the duo tied for second with matching 9.850s. Putting the slow start behind them, the Aggies turned things around on vault, where they recorded a season-high 49.250, which ranks third all-time in school history. In the third rotation, USU recorded a season-high 49.375 on floor, which is tied for seventh all-time in program history. Clark led the way with her 9.925, but freshman Molly Arnold got the party started with a personal-best 9.900 to place third. Junior Jessica Gutierrez tied for fourth with a career-high 9.875 in the sixth spot. The Aggies closed the meet on beam, their best event. Led by Bayles, all six gymnasts went 9.800 or better as USU recorded a 49.325 on the event. Brooks and junior Sofi Sullivan tied for second with matching 9.875s, while freshman Kielyn McCright tied for fifth with a 9.850.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
Next Week
Thur.-Sat., Feb. 24-26 --- at MW Champs, Albuquerque, N.M., All Day
• Utah State's men's and women's indoor track & field teams return to action on Thursday, Feb. 24, as it competes in the Mountain West Championships, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The meet runs through Saturday, Feb. 26. At the last MW Indoor Championships in 2020, the Aggie men finished fourth, while the Aggie women placed 10th.
Last Week
NTS --- at Idaho State Invitational
NTS --- at New Mexico Invitational
NTS --- at Boston Invitational
• Utah State competed at three separate meets last weekend and claimed eight titles to go along with 49 top-five placings. A trio of athletes led the Aggies at the Boston hosted-David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Senior Devin Pancake set the school record in the men's mile, recording a time of 4:00.36 to finish 15th overall. Graduate senior Connor Weaver placed 46th in the men's 5,000 meters with a time of 13:49.16, ranking second all-time in school history. On the women's side in the 5,000 meters, graduate senior Katie Haviland also set the second-fastest time in Aggie history with a mark of 16:23.77 to finish 19th. At the New Mexico hosted-Don Kirby Elite Invitational, junior Dominic Bentil placed second overall in the 200 meters with a time of 21.17, which is the third-fastest time in school history. Senior Caleb Garnica placed first in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:17.76. Freshman Chase Leach and senior Roberto Porras also claimed fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively, in the event with times of 8:30.65 and 8:31.33. In the 3,000 meters on the women's side, senior Mica Rivera finished second overall with a time of 9:53.70. Sophomore Morgan French placed fourth with a time of 10:00.61. Senior Maia Garren placed fourth in the weight throw with a mark of 18.35 meters (60-2.50). On the men's side, sophomore Ben Hoffman placed fourth in the high jump with a mark of 2.12 meters (6-11.50), which ranks ninth all-time in school history. At the Idaho State hosted- Mountain State Games, sophomore Autumn Kidd placed third in the finals of the 200 meters with a time of 26.03 and also registered a second-place finish in the 400 meters with a time of 59.87. Freshman Max Wehrli won the title in the 5,000 meters, posting a time of 14:36.72. Senior Darren Harman finished close behind in second with a time of 14:37.92. In the women's 5,000 meters, Abby Gray was USU's top finisher, placing second overall with a time of 17:25.92. Junior Dolly Gabri also finished second in the women's shot put with a mark of 13.58 meters (44-6.75). In the women's distance medley relay, USU's team featuring sophomores Taylia Norris and Hannah Davidson, freshman Adi Nielson and junior Bailey Brinkerhoff finished second with a time of 11:49.60, which is the fourth-fastest time in school history. Freshman Will Dixon also claimed a title for the Aggies in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:34.32. Senior Mark Crandall continued USU's dominance in distance at the meet, winning the men's mile with a time of 4:10.08. In the men's heptathlon, Caden Dupee placed first overall, scoring a total of 5,000 points while winning the shot put and 60 meters portions of the event.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Sat., Feb. 19 --- DRAKE, 11 am
• Utah State men's tennis (3-2, 0-0 MW) continues its 2022 spring season this weekend as it hosts Drake (0-5) on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m., at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
Last Week
L, 3-4 --- GONZAGA
• Utah State lost a heartbreaker, 4-3, at home to Gonzaga last weekend. In doubles play, sophomore Jack Ninteman and junior Javier Ruiz posted a 6-4 win at the first position, and juniors David Cierny and Bodin Zarkovic secured the doubles point with a 7-5 win in the second spot. In singles play, Zarkovic won in three sets at the No. 2 spot (3-6, 6-3, 6-4). Graduate senior Felipe Acosta then posted a three-sets win at the No. 3 spot (6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)), before losses on the final two courts secured the match for the Bulldogs.
SOFTBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Sat., Feb. 19 --- at Dixie State (DH), Noon
Sun., Feb. 20 --- at Dixie State, Noon
• Utah State softball (2-3, 0-0 MW) continues its 2022 campaign this weekend with a three-game series at Dixie State (0-5). The Aggies and Trailblazers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 19, at noon, followed by a single game on Sunday, Feb. 20, at noon. All-time, the Aggies are 2-3 against the Trailblazers.
Last Week
at UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Classic
L, 3-10 --- vs. North Dakota State
L, 6-9 --- UC Santa Barbara
W, 6-4 --- vs. North Dakota State
W, 8-7 --- UC Santa Barbara
L, 9-15 --- vs. North Dakota State
• Utah State opened its 2022 campaign with a 2-3 record at the UC Santa Barbara-hosted Campus Diamond Classic. USU went 1-2 against the Bison (L, 3-10; W, 6-4; L, 9-15) and split its games against the Gauchos (L, 6-9; W, 8-7). Four Aggie pitchers saw time in the circle, combining for an ERA of 8.70. The USU pitchers allowed 51 hits and 41 earned runs, while striking out 20 batters and walking 19. Senior shortstop Lexi Orozco led the Aggies at the plate after batting .474 (9-of-19). As a team, USU hit .333 (49-of-147), including 12 doubles and six home runs. Senior catcher/third baseman Gabriella Jimenez was tops defensively, recording 23 putouts and five assists.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
Next Week
Fri., Feb. 25 --- at Montana, 12:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 26 --- vs. Portland, Missoula, Montana, TBA
• Utah State women's tennis (2-1) continues its 2022 spring season on Friday, Feb. 25, with a match at Montana (2-2) at 12:30 p.m. USU will then face Portland (2-2) in Missoula, Montana, on Saturday, Feb. 26.
Last Week
W, 7-0 --- at Dixie State
W, 5-2 --- WEBER STATE
• Utah State went 2-0 on the week with a 7-0 win at Dixie State and a 5-2 home win against Weber State. Against the Trailblazers, the Aggies scored the doubles point following a 6-0 win from juniors Zeynep Naz Ozturk and Carolina Millan at the first position and a 6-1 win from seniors Annaliese County and Gabrielle Dekkers at the third position. In singles play, sophomore Lisa Küng won in three sets at the No. 1 spot (6-3, 3-6, 6-1). Millan took the win at the No. 2 spot via retirement (5-7, 6-3, 1-0). Naz Ozturk won at the No. 3 spot in a third-set tiebreak (4-6, 6-3, 10-6). County won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot (6-1, 6-1). Dekkers also won in a third-set tiebreak at the No. 5 spot (6-3, 5-7, 10-3). And at the No. 6 spot, freshman Brooke Demerath won her first career dual match in straight sets (6-0, 6-1). Against the Wildcats, the Aggies lost the doubles point to start the match before storming back to win the first four matches of singles play to clinch the comeback victory. Junior Zara Ryan won at the No. 4 spot in straight sets (6-1, 6-2), followed by another straight-sets victory by Küng at the No. 2 spot (6-4, 6-3). At the No. 3 spot, County outlasted her opponent in three sets (6-4, 1-6, 6-4). Millan then clinched the match for the Aggies at the No. 1 spot with a three-sets win (6-3, 4-6, 6-1). Dekkers added extra cushion with a comeback victory at the No. 5 spot (1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-5).
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
Next Competition
Mon.-Tue, March 21-22 --- at UC San Diego Invite, All Day
• Utah State's golf team will continue its 2022 spring season on Monday and Tuesday, March 21-22, at the UC San Diego Invitational, held at La Costa in Carlsbad, California.
Last Week
8th/14 --- at Southern Utah Invite, St. George, Utah
• Utah State shot an even-par 288 in the final round of the Southern Utah hosted-Pizza Hut-Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, held at Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George, Utah. The Aggies finished in eighth place against the 14-team field as they posted a 54-hole team score of 7-over 871 (292-291-288). Javier Vazquez was one of four Aggies to shoot an even-par 72 on the third and final day as the sophomore tied for 16th at 1-under 215, a 54-hole career best. John Cook, making his collegiate debut and playing as an individual, tied for 29th at 2-over 218 after closing with a 3-over 75. The sophomore led USU during the first round with a 4-under 68. Freshmen Luis Gerardo Cantu and Julio Arronte Sanchez both shot even-par 72 during the final round and finished in a tie for 38th at 4-over 220. Seniors Jesse Henderson and Cameron Tucker tied for 47th (222, +6) and tied for 50th (223, +7), respectively. Tucker was the fourth Aggie to close with a 72 during the final round. Besides Cook, USU had two other golfers play as individuals. Sophomore Purin Yingpisit tied for 76th (234, +18) and redshirt sophomore Spencer Panter tied for 83rd (239, +23).
