FORT COLLINS, Colorado - Utah State women's basketball (7-16, 2-11 Mountain West) lost an 86-83 battle to Colorado State (15-7, 6-6 MW) inside Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Wednesday night.
After an early 2-2 tie, the Aggies led for the remainder of the first half. CSU trimmed the USU lead to 11-9, but the Aggies closed out the quarter with a 12-2 run to lead 23-11 at the end of the period.
Guard/forward Adryana Quezada had a hot start for Utah State as the junior registered 10 points in the opening stanza.
The teams went back-and-forth for most of the second quarter as the Rams cut the lead to 36-28 with 2:56 remaining. USU responded with a 7-0 run after a jumper from senior guard Kaylin Randhawa, a 3-pointer from senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford and a Quezada bucket to lead 43-28 at the half.
Colorado State cut the lead to 50-43 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The teams continued to trade points until a free throw from senior point guard Manna Mensah gave Utah State the 64-55 lead with 32 seconds left in the third. Mensah extended the Aggie lead back to double figures after knocking down a buzzer at the jumper for the 66-55 edge.
CSU continued to chip away at the USU lead until the Rams took their first lead of the game at 80-78 with 1:28 to go. The teams went back-and-forth, but Colorado State held on for the 86-83 win.
Quezada led the Aggies with her seventh double-double of the season with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Junior guard Shyla Latone, Mensah and Stafford also finished in double figures with 14, 13 and 11 points, respectively.
USU finished the night shooting 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.
Utah State next returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum for its Breast Cancer Awareness game against Boise State (8-14, 4-7 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m.
Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.
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