WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Weekly Aggie Update
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL         
Contact: Kyle Cottam - (435) 797-2066
 
This Week
Fri., March 4 --- at San José State, 9 p.m. (MT) (FS1)
• Utah State men's basketball (16-14, 7-10 MW) concludes its regular season at San José State (8-20, 1-15 MW) on Friday, March 4, at 9 p.m. (MT). USU leads the all-time series, 67-22, which includes a 22-14 road record as the Aggies have won 11 of the last 12 away from home against SJSU. Fans can watch the game live on FS1 (Xfinity, Ch. 265, DISH Ch. 150, DirecTV Ch. 219).
 
Last Week
W, 81-56  --- NEW MEXICO
L, 55-66 --- COLORADO STATE
• Utah State posted a 1-1 Mountain West home record last week with an 81-56 win against New Mexico and a 66-55 loss to Colorado State. Against the Lobos, senior forward Justin Bean recorded the first of two double-doubles with game highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds, while senior forward Brandon Horvath added 19 points, junior guard Sean Bairstow scored 12 points and sophomore guard Steven Ashworth had 10 points. USU shot 52.5 percent (32-of-61) from the floor, 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from behind the 3-point line and 90.0 percent (9-of-10) at the free throw line. UNM shot 36.4 percent (24-of-66) from the floor, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from behind the 3-point line and 30.0 percent (3-of-10) at the charity stripe. Against the Rams, Bean recorded a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, while senior guard RJ Eytle-Rock had a team-high 14 points, while Ashworth and Horvath each had 11 points. USU shot 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the floor, 28.0 percent (7-of-25) from behind the 3-point line and 33.3 percent (6-of-18) at the free throw line. CSU shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the floor, 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) at the free throw line.
 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL                 
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
 
This Week
Wed., March 2 --- FRESNO STATE, 6 p.m. (MWN)
Sun., March 6 --- MW Championships, Las Vegas, Nevada, TBA
•  Utah State women's basketball (9-18, 4-13 MW) concludes its regular season with a home game against Fresno State (11-16, 7-9 MW) on Wednesday, March 2, at 6 p.m. USU is 4-28 all-time against FSU. The Aggies will then head to Las Vegas, Nevada, to compete in the 2022 Mountain West Championships, beginning on Sunday, March 6. Fans can watch every game via the Mountain West Network, streaming online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
 
Last Week
W, 82-80 (2OT) --- NEVADA
• Utah State came out victorious in a thrilling 82-80 double overtime home win against Nevada last weekend as senior point guard Manna Mensah scored the game-winning basket with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Five Aggies scored in double figures as junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada had 18 points, Mensah, senior guard Kaylin Randhawa and graduate forward Laci Hawthorne all had 12 points, and senior guard Emmie Harris finished with 11 points. Quezada posted her ninth double-double of the season with a game-high 11 rebounds. USU shot 46.5 percent (33-of-71) from the field, 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from behind the arc and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) at the free throw line. UN shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the floor, 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from behind the 3-point line and 75.0 percent (21-of-28) at the charity stripe.
 
 
GYMNASTICS      
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
 
This Week
Sun., March 6  --- at Washington / vs. Stanford, 3 p.m. (MT)
• Utah State gymnastics (9-6, 3-4 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) continues its 2022 season this week with a road tri meet. The 16th-ranked Aggies will travel to Seattle to take on host Washington (4-7, 1-5 Pac-12) and No. 20 Stanford (4-9-1, 2-5 Pac-12), on Sunday, March 6, at 3 p.m. (MT).
 
Last Week
2nd, 196.225 --- No. 12 BYU / No. 23  TOWSON
W, 196.725 -196.000 --- No. 23  TOWSON
• Junior Rebecca Wells won the all-around and tied for first on two other events to help the Aggies notch a 196.225 against No. 12 BYU and No. 23 Towson in the first of two home meets last weekend. The Cougars won the meet with a 196.575, while the Tigers placed third with a 195.600. Wells finished with a career-high 39.475 in the all-around, a score that is tied for sixth all-time in program history. Wells also tied for first on vault with a 9.850, tied for first on bars with a personal-best 9.850 and placed second on beam with a 9.925, which matched her career high and is tied for ninth all-time in school history. She also tied for fifth on floor with a 9.850. The Aggies began the meet on vault and recorded a 49.025 on the event. Joining Wells in first place was freshman Trinity Brown, who also had a 9.850. USU scored a 48.950 on bars as sophomore Brianna Brooks matched Wells' 9.850 to tie for first. Wells led the Aggies off on beam with her 9.925 as USU finished with a 49.000. The Aggies closed the meet strong on floor, notching a 49.250. Sophomore Eve Jackson tied for second on the event with a career-high-tying 9.900. Utah State and Towson squared off in a dual meet on Sunday, with the Aggies notching their highest home score in school history with a 196.725, which is also the fifth-best overall score in program history. The Tigers finished with a season-best road score of a 196.000. The Aggies posted the top score on all four events, while Wells won the all-around (38.250) for the sixth time this year. USU opened the meet on vault, where Brown and fellow freshman Molly Arnold each landed a 9.850 to tie for first. For Arnold, it was a career-best score, and her first-career title. Highlighted by a trio of 9.850s from Wells, sophomore Eve Jackson and junior Maia Fishwick, who all tied for first on the event, the Aggies notched a 49.175 on bars in the second rotation. In the third rotation, USU had another 49.175, this time on beam. Four Aggies placed in the top four, including Clark with a 9.875 to capture the title. USU closed the meet with a 49.450 on floor, which ranks sixth all-time in school history. Clark captured the title on the event with a career-high-tying 9.950, which is tied for third in program history. Jackson and Brown tied for third on floor with a pair of 9.900s.
 
 
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD                 
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
 
Next Competition
Fri.-Sat., March 18-19 --- at Arizona Invite, All Day
• Utah State's men's and women's track & field programs will return to action on Friday and Saturday, March 18-19, when they begin their respective outdoor seasons at the Arizona Invitational.
 
Last Week
M: 3rd/7; W: 6th/11 --- at MW Champs., Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Utah State's men's team placed third out of seven squads with 73 points, while the Aggie women placed sixth out of 11 teams with 38.50 points at the 2022 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the men, it is fifth time in the past six years it has finished in the top three, while the women tied its best-ever team finish in the MW. Overall, five Aggies earned all-conference honors. In the men's heptathlon, junior Caden Dupee placed third with a score of 5,192, ranking as fourth-best performance in school history. Senior Devin Pancake registered a third-place finish with a time of 4:05.32 in the men's mile, as the Aggies placed three runners in the top eight. In the shot put, sophomore Gavin Beierle made the podium with a third-place finish with a mark of 17.13 meters (56-2.50). Senior Maia Garren also reached the podium in the shot put on the women's side, placing third with a mark of 15.22 meters (49-11.25). Junior Dominic Bentil posted USU's final podium performance in the 200 meters, coming in third with a time of 21.27. Senior Karen Christensen placed fourth in the women's 800 meters, posting the second-best time in school history at 2:09.50. USU's quartet of freshman Alison Richter and sophomores Olivia Smith, Delphine Dah and Emma Reeves then tied for the third-best time in school history in the 4x400-meter relay with a time 3:41.96 to place fourth in the event.
 
 
SOFTBALL             
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
 
This Week
at San Diego Invite
Fri., March 4 --- vs. Stony Brook, 11 a.m. (MT)
Fri., March 4 --- vs. Long Beach State, 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Sat., March 5 --- vs. Boston, Noon (MT)
Sat., March 5 --- at UC San Diego, 5 p.m. (MT)
Sun., March 6 --- vs. Yale, 10:30 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State softball (6-7, 0-0 MW) continues its 2022 campaign this weekend at the San Diego Classic. USU first faces Stony Brook (4-1) and Long Beach State (5-9) on Friday, March 4, at 11 a.m. (MT) and 1 p.m. (MT), respectively. The Aggies then face Boston (5-8) and UC San Diego (8-7) on Saturday, March 5, at noon (MT) and 5 p.m. (MT), respectively. USU concludes its run at the classic by taking on Yale (0-0) on Sunday, March 6, at 10:30 a.m. (MT). All-time, the Aggies are 0-0 against the Seawolves, 21-43-1 against the Beach, 0-0 against the Terriers, 2-0 against the Tritons and 0-0 against the Bulldogs.
 
Last Week
at Silicon Valley Classic I, Santa Clara, California
W, 8-2 --- vs. Sacramento State
L, 4-5 --- at Santa Clara
W, 6-5 ; L 6-8 --- vs. Saint Mary's (DH)
W, 6-4 --- at Cal Poly
• Utah State softball went 3-2 at the Santa Clara-hosted Silicon Valley Classic I last week as the Aggies defeated Sacramento State (W, 8-2), fell to Santa Clara (L, 4-5), split its games against Saint Mary's (W, 6-5; L, 6-8) and defeated Cal Poly (W, 6-4). Five Aggies pitchers saw time in the circle, combining for an ERA of 3.09. The USU pitchers allowed 42 hits and 15 earned runs, while striking out 12 batters and walking seven. Senior shortstop Lexi Orozco led the Aggies at the plate after batting .500 (5-of-10). As a team, USU hit .294 (42-of-143), including two home runs, six doubles and one triple. Senior first baseman Bri Lerma was tops defensively, recording 36 putouts and one assist.
 
 
MEN'S TENNIS  
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
 
Next Week
Tue., March 8 --- at Loyola Marymount, 11 a.m. (MT)
Wed., March 9 --- at UC Riverside, 10 a.m. (MT)
Sat., March 12 --- at Cal Poly, Noon (MT)
• Utah State men's tennis (5-5, 0-0 MW) returns to action next week with three road matches as it plays at Loyola Marymount (2-7) on Tuesday, March 8, at 11 a.m. (MT), and UC Riverside (2-4) on Wednesday, March 9, at 10 a.m. (MT), and at Cal Poly (7-3) on Saturday, March 12, at noon (MT).
 
Last Week
W, 7-0 --- MONTANA STATE
at Arizona State Invite, Tempe, Arizona
L, 0-4 --- vs. No. 71 UC Santa Barbara
L, 3-4 --- vs. No. 65 Rice
W, 4-1 --- vs. New Mexico
• Utah State men's tennis went 2-2 last week, including a 1-2 mark at the Arizona State Invite. The Aggies started the week with a 7-0 home win against Montana State. USU won the doubles points as graduate senior Felipe Acosta and freshman Sergi Mico Fenollar notched a 6-1 win at the third position, while juniors Bodin Zarkovic and David Cierny posted a 6-3 win at the second position. In singles play, the Aggies got victories from Cierny at the No. 1 spot (7-6, (2), 6-4), Zarkovic at the No. 2 spot (6-3, 6-4), Acosta at the No. 3 spot (6-3, 6-2), Mico Fenollar at the No. 4 spot (4-6, 6-1, 6-4), junior Roko Savin at the No. 5 spot (7-6 (1), 7-5) and junior Javier Ruiz at the No. 6 spot (2-6, 7-6 (1), 10-2). After starting the ASU Invite with a 4-0 loss to No. 71-ranked UC Santa Barbara, USU's second match came down to the wire versus No. 65-ranked Rice. Ruiz and sophomore Jack Ninteman posted a 6-3 win at the first doubles position, but the Aggies were unable to score the opening point of the match. In singles play, Zarkovic won in straight sets at the No. 2 spot (6-3, 6-4). Acosta won in three-sets at the No. 3 spot (3-6, 6-4, 6-2). And, Mico Fenollar won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot (6-4, 6-4). After dropping the doubles point against the Lobos, USU scored the first four points of singles play to clinch the victory. Acosta won in straight sets at the No. 3 spot (7-5, 7-5), Mico Fenollar won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot (6-3, 6-4), Savin won in straight sets at the No. 5 spot (7-5, 6-4). And, senior Maksymilian Raupuk delivered the clinching point for the Aggies in a three-sets win at the No. 6 spot (6-4, 1-6, 6-4).
 
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS            
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
 
This Week
Fri., March 4 --- BYU, 11 a.m.
• Utah State women's tennis (4-1) continues its 2022 spring season this weekend as it hosts BYU (4-7) on Friday, March 4, at 11 a.m.
 
Last Week
W, 6-1--- at Montana
W, 4-3 --- vs. Portland, Missoula, Montana
• Utah State posted a 2-0 record in Missoula, Montana, last weekend with a 6-1 win against Montana and a 4-3 win against Portland. Against the Grizzlies, USU captured the doubles point as juniors Carolina Millan and Zeynep Naz Ozturk posted a 6-4 win at the second position, while senior Annaliese County and sophomore Lisa Kung notched a 6-3 win at the third position. In singles, Millan won in straight sets at the No. 2 spot (6-0, 7-5). Naz Ozturk won in straight sets at the No. 3 spot (6-2, 6-2). Junior Zara Ryan won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot (6-3, 7-6 (3)). County won in three-sets at the No. 5 spot (4-6, 6-3, 10-5), and senior Gabrielle Dekkers won in straight sets at the No. 6 spot (6-3, 6-3). Against the Vikings, USU lost the doubles point as Millan and Naz Ozturk notched a 6-3 win at the third position. In singles play, Millan won in straight sets at the No. 2 spot (6-1, 6-1). County won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot (6-2, 6-4). Ryan won in three-sets at the No. 5 spot (6-1, 2-6, 6-3). And, redshirt junior Sidnee Lavatai then clinched USU's victory in the final singles match of the day with a three-sets win at the No. 6 spot (4-6, 6-4, 6-4).
 
 
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 Competition
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, on Feb. 11-13. 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).