WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - FEBRUARY 7, 2022

Weekly Aggie Update
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL         
Contact: Kyle Cottam - (435) 797-2066
 
This Week
Tue., Feb. 8 --- at Wyoming, 7 p.m. (Stadium/MWN)
Fri., Feb. 11 --- NEVADA, 7 p.m. (FS1)
• Utah State men's basketball (15-9, 6-5 MW) continues its 2021-22 season this week with a pair of Mountain West games as it plays at Wyoming (19-3, 8-1 MW) on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m., followed by a home game against Nevada (9-12, 3-7 MW) on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. USU is 33-51 all-time against the Cowboys, including a 7-30 road record, and 40-23 all-time against the Wolf Pack, including a 21-5 home record. Fans can watch the game against UW on Stadium, streaming online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch, and the game against UN on FS1 (Xfinity, Ch. 265, DISH Ch. 150, DirecTV Ch. 219).
 
Last Week
W, 73-46 --- AIR FORCE
W, 78-62--- SAN JOSÉ STATE
W, 90-75 --- UNLV
• Utah State stretched its league-leading winning streak to five games with home wins against Air Force (73-46), San José State (78-62) and UNLV (90-75) last week. Against the Falcons, USU's starting frontcourt of seniors Justin Bean and Brandon Horvath each scored 17 points and logged nine rebounds apiece as the Aggies shot a then-season-high 61.9 percent (26-of-42). Junior guard Sean Bairstow and sophomore guard Steven Ashworth added 15 and 10 points, respectively, as USU also shot 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from behind the arc and 94.1 percent (16-of-17) at the free throw line. AFA shot 36.0 percent (18-of-50) from the floor, 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from behind the 3-point line and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) at the free throw line. Against the Spartans, Horvath had 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals, while Bean had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard RJ Eytle-Rock added 11 points as USU shot 46.3 percent (31-of-67) from the floor, 34.5 percent (10-of-29) from behind the 3-point line and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) at the free throw line. SJSU shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the floor, 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from behind the arc and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) at the free throw line. Against the Runnin' Rebels, Bean recorded his second-straight double-double with 32 points and 10 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Horvath (17), Ashworth (14) and Bairstow (14) as the Aggies shot a season-high 64.0 percent (32-of-50) from the floor, 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from behind the 3-point line and 69.6 percent (16-of-23) at the free throw line. UNLV shot 48.1 percent (25-of-52) from the floor, 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from behind the 3-point line and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) at the free throw line.
 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL                 
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
 
This Week
Wed., Feb. 9 --- at Colorado State, 6 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., Feb. 12 --- BOISE STATE, 2 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State women's basketball (7-15, 2-10 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a road game at Colorado State (14-7, 5-6 MW) on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m., and a home game against Boise State (8-14, 4-7 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. All-time, the Aggies are 13-23 against the Rams and 11-29 against the Broncos.  Fans can watch every game via the Mountain West Network, streaming online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
 
Last Week
L, 67-68 --- SAN DIEGO STATE
L, 60-72 --- UNLV
• Utah State lost a pair of home games last week to San Diego State (68-67) and UNLV (72-60). Against the Aztecs, USU was led by junior guard Shyla Latone with 20 points, while junior guard/forward Adryana Quezada had 18 points and senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford added 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. USU shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field, 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) at the free throw line. SDSU shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the floor, 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from behind the arc and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) at the charity stripe. Against the Lady Rebels, the Aggies were led by Quezada and graduate forward Laci Hawthorne with 17 and 13 points, respectively. USU shot 34.5 percent (23-of-58) from the floor, 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (10-of-15). UNLV shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the floor, 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from behind the 3-point line and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) at the free throw line.
 
 
GYMNASTICS      
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
 
This Week
Fri., Feb. 11 --- at No. 25 Southern Utah, 7 p.m.
• Utah State gymnastics (7-3, 3-1 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) continues its 2022 season this week when the 21st-ranked Aggies travel to Cedar City, Utah, for a conference dual meet against No. 25 Southern Utah (3-5, 1-4 MRGC) on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m.
 
Last Week
1st, 196.450 --- No. 25 SOUTHERN UTAH/BALL STATE
• On a night the Aggies paid tribute to the first head coach in program history, Ray Corn, they made sure to honor his memory with a tri-meet sweep over Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference-rival Southern Utah and Ball State. Then-No. 20 Utah State recorded a 196.425 to finish first, while then-24th-ranked SUU took second with a 195.550 and the Cardinals placed third with a 194.350. At 7-3 overall, the Aggies are off to their best start yet under head coach Amy Smith. This is also USU's best start to a season since opening the 1999 campaign under Corn at 11-1. Junior Rebecca Wells won the all-around with a personal-best 39.250. She also had a personal-best 9.925 on beam, which is tied for ninth all-time in school history, to place second on the event. USU opened with a 49.025 on vault as Wells tied for third with a 9.850. Junior Maia Fishwick led the Aggies on bars as she won the event with a 9.900. Fellow junior Sofi Sullivan and sophomore Brianna Brooks tied for second with matching 9.850s, helping USU record a 49.000. The Aggies shined on beam in the third rotation, finishing with a 49.475, which is tied for third all-time in school history. Sullivan won the event with a season-high 9.950, which is tied for second all-time. Senior Carley Bayles added a 9.900 to place third. USU closed the meet on floor with a 48.925. Brown and Wells each recorded a 9.875 to tie for first. For Brown, it was a career-best score.
 
 
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD                 
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
 
This Week
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 11-12 --- at Idaho State Invitational, All Day
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 11-12 --- at New Mexico Invitational, All Day
• Utah State's men's and women's indoor track & field teams face a split weekend of competition, sending athletes to the New Mexico-hosted Don Kirby Elite Invitational and to the Idaho State-hosted Mountain State Games. Both meets are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 11-12.
 
Last Week
NTS --- UTAH STATE INVITATIONAL
• Utah State hosted its first indoor meet since 2009 last weekend in the Aggie Speed and Power Meet. Multiple Aggies set new career-bests and etched their names into USU's record books on the day. In the women's 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Abbey Bryant set a new personal-record and a facility record, clocking in with a time of 8.63. The mark places her fifth all-time in school history. Junior Gabriella Holmstrom placed first in the 60 meters with a time of 7.59, the third-best mark in school history and a new facility record. Senior Hailey Suit placed second in the event with a time of 7.67. Senior Maren Garnett tied for the fourth-best mark in school history in the pole vault with a height of 3.80 meters (12-2.50) to win the event. In the triple jump, sophomore Sidnee Naerebout recorded a mark of 11.66 meters (38-3.25) to put her in ninth place all-time at USU. In the women's weight throw, junior Tori Bailey recorded the sixth-best mark in school history at 17.66 meters (57-11.25). Senior Maia Garren, who owns the school record, won the event with a mark of 18.26 meters (59-11.00). Sophomore Olivia Smith also set a facility record in the 600 meters with a time of 1:38.36. On the men's side, freshman Johnny Cruz set a facility record for the 600 meters, clocking in at 1:21.89.
 
 
MEN'S TENNIS  
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
 
This Week
Fri., Feb. 11 --- GONZAGA, 11 am
• Utah State men's tennis (3-1, 0-0 MW) will continue its 2022 spring season this weekend as it hosts Gonzaga (4-0) on Friday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m., at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
 
Last Week
W, 5-2 --- at Weber State
• Utah State posted a 5-2 road win against Weber State last weekend, which was its eighth-straight victory against the Wildcats. The Aggies secured the doubles point as sophomore Jack Ninteman and junior Javier Ruiz posted a 7-6 win at the second position, while   senior Felipe Acosta and freshman Sergi Mico Fenollar notched a 7-6 win at the third position. In singles play, junior David Cierny won in straight sets at the No. 1 spot (6-3, 6-4). Mico Fenollar  won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot (6-1, 6-0). Ruiz won in three-sets at the No. 5 spot (6-1, 4-6, 7-5). And, senior Maksymilian Raupuk clinched the victory with a three-set win at the No. 6 spot (7-5, 4-6, 6-3).
 
 
SOFTBALL             
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
 
This Week
at UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Classic
Fri., Feb. 11 --- vs. North Dakota State, 10:30 a.m. (MT)
Fri., Feb. 11 --- at UCSB, 3 p.m. (MT) (ESPN+)
Sat., Feb. 12 --- vs. North Dakota State, 10:30 a.m. (MT)
Sat., Feb. 12--- at UCSB, 12:45 p.m. (MT) (ESPN+)
Sun., Feb. 13 --- vs. North Dakota State, 10 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State softball (0-0, 0-0 MW) opens its 2022 campaign this weekend at the Gaucho Classic in Santa Barbara, California. USU will begin the tournament on Friday, Feb. 11 with games against North Dakota State and UCSB at 10:30 a.m. (MT) and 3 p.m. (MT), respectively. On Saturday, Feb. 12, USU will face NDSU and UCSB at 10:30 a.m. (MT) and 12:45 p.m. (MT), respectively. And on Sunday, Feb. 13, USU will play NDSU at 10 a.m. (MT). All-time, the Aggies are 3-2 against the Bison and 33-27 against the Gauchos.
 
Preseason Notes
• Utah State returns seven starters and 11 letterwinners, to go along with two pitchers, from last year's team that posted a 14-30 record, including a 4-17 mark in Mountain West play. Highlighting USU's returners is sophomore third baseman Zaia Castruita, who earned first-team all-MW honors last year. Steve Johnson is 158-221 in his ninth season as USU's head coach.  
 
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS            
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
 
This Week
Fri., Feb. 11 --- at Dixie State, 11 a.m.
Sun., Feb. 13 --- WEBER STATE, 11 a.m.
• Utah State women's tennis (0-1) continues its 2022 spring season with a pair of matches this week as it plays at Dixie State (0-5) on Friday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m., and hosts Weber State (2-2) on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m., at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
 
Last Week
L, 3-4 --- IDAHO STATE
• Utah State lost to Idaho State 4-3 last weekend in its season opener. USU lost the doubles point as ISU notched 6-3 wins at the first and third position, while redshirt junior Sidnee Lavatai and sophomore Lisa Küng posted a 6-3 win at the second position for the Aggies. In singles play, junior Carolina Millan won in straight sets at the No. 1 spot (6-3, 6-3). Küng won in straight sets at the No. 2 spot (6-2, 6-1). And, senior Annaliese County won in three-sets at the No. 3 spot (4-6, 6-3, 6-1).
 
 
GOLF      
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
 
This Week
Fri.-Sun, Feb. 11-13 --- at Southern Utah Invite, St. George, Utah, All Day
• Utah State's golf team will open its 2022 spring season this weekend at the Southern Utah-hosted Pizza Hut-Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 11-13. The 54-hole tournament will be played at Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George, Utah.
 
Last Competition
T-5th/12 --- at CSUN Bill Cullum Invitatioinal
• True freshman Esteban Jaramillo closed with a final-round 5-over 77 to lead Utah State's golf team at the 25th-annual CSUN-hosted Mark Simpson Invitational, held Oct. 11-12, at The Oaks Club at Valencia in Valencia, California. Jaramillo's round included four birdies, the final coming on the 520-yard par-5 15th to pull within one shot of the lead. Unfortunately for the native of Bogota, Colombia, he went bogey-bogey to conclude his day and finish in a tie for fifth place at 2-over 218, a career low. USU finished its fall season by tying for fifth in the 12-team field at 34-over par, marking the best finish of the fall season for the Aggies. The Matadors captured the team title at 12-over. UC San Diego joined USU in fifth place. Playing as an individual, UC Santa Barbara's Brian Arnold captured medalist honors at 3-under 213 (67-71-75). USU also had an individual in the field as Spencer Panter made his collegiate debut for the Aggies, but the redshirt sophomore did not finish his round on the final day. Competing in just his third-career tournament, Jaramillo led the 79-player field with 15 birdies. He also ranked third in par-4 scoring with an average of 3.97. Sophomore Javier Vazquez also posted a top-20 finish for USU as the native of Mexico City, Mexico, carded a final-round 78. After rounds of 72 and 73 on Day 1, he placed 16th at 7-over 223. Seniors Cameron Tucker (+10) and Jesse Henderson (+20) tied for 25th and 52nd, respectively, while sophomore Purin Yingpisit tied for 71st (+28).