AGGIE TIP-OFF
Utah State women's basketball (8-18, 3-13 MW) hosts Nevada (18-9, 10-5 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 26, inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Saturday's game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network. 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 135 games during her five-year Utah State career.
AGGIES VERSUS WOLF PACK
Saturday's game will mark the 36th meeting between the Aggies and Wolf Pack. Utah State leads the all-time series 19-16, however, Nevada has won four straight games. USU and Nevada last faced off in Reno, Nevada, on Jan. 3, where the Wolf Pack won 65-54. Three Aggies scored in double figures in the outing as senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford and senior guard Kaylin Randhawa each scored 12 points, while senior point guard Manna Mensah had 11.
SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
Nevada is 18-9, including 10-5 in MW action. The Wolf Pack averages 66.6 points per game, while shooting 40.1 (671-of-1,673) from the field, 30.6 percent (167-of-546) from behind the arc and 80.7 percent (288-of-357) at the free throw line. Nevada allows 61.0 points per game, with opponents shooting 41.5 percent (597-of-1,438) from the floor, 30.9 percent (146-of-473) from behind the 3-point line and 71.5 percent (306-of-428) at the free throw line.
Two members of the Wolf Pack average double figures in scoring in senior guard Da'Ja Hamilton (13.9 ppg) and freshman guard Audrey Roden (11.1 ppg). Nevada is led by sophomore forward Lexie Givens in rebounds (5.0 rpg), senior guard Kylie Jimenez in assists (3.6 apg) and steals (1.7 spg), and senior forward Megan Ormiston in blocks (0.6 bpg).
THE HOT HAND
After missing the first two games of January, junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada has scored in double figures in 11 of the last 13 contests. Quezada is averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in the last 13 games while shooting 55.0 percent (99-of-180) from the field during the stretch.
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 (12.08, 2nd), free throw attempts per game (16.88, 3rd), blocks per game (3.08, 4th), offensive rebounds per game (11.88, 4th) and rebounds per game (38.46, 4th).
Utah State also ranks in the top-10 in various individual categories in the MW as junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada ranks third in field goal percentage (.524), fourth in offensive rebounds per game (2.96), sixth in rebounds per game (7.96), seventh in defensive rebounds per game (5.00) and 10th in scoring (14.29). Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa ranks fifth in free throw percentage (.822), senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford is sixth in blocks per game (0.88), graduate forward Laci Hawthorne ranks 10th in offensive rebounds per game (2.26) and junior guard Shyla Latone ranks 10th in 3-pointers made per game (1.81).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Eight different Aggies have scored in double figures this season, led by both junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada and senior guard Kaylin Randhawa with 15 double figure scoring outings, while senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford has scored in double figures 13 times.
FREE FOR THE TAKING
Utah State is second in the Mountain West in free throws made per game (12.08) and third in free throw attempts per game (16.88). The Aggies' current mark of 71.5 percent at the charity stripe ranks eighth all-time in program history.
STARTING CONTRIBUTORS
Utah State's starting lineup has accounted for 74.0 percent (1,281) of the points and 68.6 percent (625) of the rebounds during the 2021-22 season.
BENCH WORK
Utah State's bench has outscored its opponents' 450-417. The Aggie bench has registered 20-or-more points in 10 contests, including six games of 30-plus points.
A USU bench player has scored in double figures 16 times this season and has led the team in scoring in five 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).
GLASS CLEANERS
Utah State averages 38.46 rebounds per game which ranks ninth all-time in program history. USU ranks fourth in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (38.46) and is fourth in the MW in rebounds per game in league play (38.9).
Two Aggies rank in the top-20 in the conference in rebounds per game in junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada (7.96 rpg, 6th) and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford (5.72 rpg, 16th). Quezada (8.2, 7th) and Stafford (7.0 rpg, 14th) also rank in the top-20 in rebounds per game in Mountain West contests.
GIVING THEMSELVES A SECOND CHANCE
The Aggies are fourth in the Mountain West in offensive rebounds per game at 11.88. Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada is fourth in the MW in offensive boards per game at 2.96, while graduate forward Laci Hawthorne (2.26 orpg) ranks 16th. In league play, Quezada ranks seventh (2.9 orpg), Hawthorne is 12th (2.2), senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford is tied for 16th (1.7) and senior guard Kaylin Randhawa ranks 24th (0.8 orpg).
ICE IN THE VEINS
Three of USU's eight 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).
THREE'S COMPANY
USU is 7-4 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 eight and four, respectively. Quezada's eight double-doubles are ranked for fourth in the Mountain West. Half of USU's wins this season (four) have come when either Quezada or Stafford register a double-double.
I'LL TAKE THAT
Utah State has recorded 10-plus steals in five games in the 2021-22 campaign, including a season-best 14 steals in the 85-75 win against Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 13). Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada registered the best individual mark of the season after stealing the ball a career-high six times in the Aggies' 63-55 victory over Boise State (Feb. 12).
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 20 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
Senior guard Emmie Harris has registered 213 career assists and just needs two more dimes to enter the top-10 in assists on the USU career record list.
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.
MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada was named the Mountain West Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after averaging a double-double with 24.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game to help the Aggies go 1-1 with an 86-83 loss at Colorado State and a 63-55 victory over Boise State at home. Against the Rams, Quezada registered 29 points, a season-high-tying 15 rebounds and three assists. Against the Broncos, she 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. With Boise State and Utah State tied at 52-52 and just over three minutes to play, Quezada scored six of the next 11 USU points to help secure the 63-52 victory. She converted an and-1 with 1:34 on the clock to give Utah State the 58-52 lead over BSU. For the week, Quezada averaged 24.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 54.3 percent (19-of-35) from the floor and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) at the free throw line.
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 (135) and senior forward Taylor Franson (96). Graduate forward Laci Hawthorne has appeared in 123 career games, including 23 at Utah State, while senior guard Kaylin Randhawa has appeared in 106 career games, senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford has appeared in 102 and senior point guard Manna Mensah has appeared in 100.
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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