WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - JANUARY 30, 2023
Weekly Aggie Update
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Wed., Feb. 1 --- NEW MEXICO, 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sat., Feb. 4 --- at Colorado State, 6 p.m. (CBSSN)
• Utah State men's basketball (17-5, 6-3 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of games as it hosts New Mexico (19-3, 6-3 MW) on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 8:30 p.m., and plays at Colorado State (10-12, 2-7 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. USU is 31-12 all-time against the Lobos, including a 16-2 home record, and 60-43 all-time against the Rams, including a 9-19 road record. USU's game against UNM will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 (Xfinity Ch. 265/HD691, DirecTV Ch. 219, DISH Ch. 150), while its game at CSU will be televised live on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753 HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221).
Last Week
L, 75-85 --- at San Diego State
W, 70-53 --- at Fresno State
• Utah State split its Mountain West road games last week with an 85-75 loss at San Diego State and a 70-53 win at Fresno State. Against the Aztecs, USU shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the field, 33.3 percent (11-of-33) from behind the arc and 60.0 percent (6-of-10) at the free throw line, while SDSU shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the floor, 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from behind the 3-point line and 85.0 percent (17-of-20) at the free throw line. Three Aggies scored in double figures as graduate forward Taylor Funk had 22 points and senior guard Sean Bairstow had 18, while graduate forward Dan Akin had his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Against the Bulldogs, USU shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from deep and 90.0 percent (18-of-20) at the free throw line, while FSU shot 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the floor, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from behind the arc and 80.0 percent (8-of-10) at the free throw line. Akin led the Aggies with 23 points, while junior guard Steven Ashworth had 14.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Sat., Feb. 4 --- at Idaho State, 10 a.m.
Sun., Feb. 5 --- UTAH TECH, 10 a.m.
• Utah State women's tennis (1-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 spring season this weekend with a pair of matches as it plays at Idaho State (1-2) on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m., and hosts Utah Tech (0-2) on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m.
Last Week
W, 4-3 --- vs. Western Michigan, Lincoln, Nebraska
L, 0-4 --- at Nebraska
• Utah State split a pair of matches last weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska, as it defeated Western Michigan 4-3 and lost to Nebraska 4-0. Against the Broncos, USU scored all four of its points in singles play. Senior Zeynep Naz Ozturk posted a straight-sets win (6-2, 6-4) at the No. 1 spot. Junior Lisa Küng won in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) at the No. 2 spot. Graduate Monique Burton won in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) at the No. 3 spot. And, junior Laura Fernanda Eugenio De Hilario won in three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-3) at the No. 4 spot. In doubles play, Küng and senior Annaliese County posted a 6-3 win at the third position. Against the Cornhuskers, the Aggies lost the double point and the second, fifth, and sixth singles positions, which left three matches unfinished.
GYMNASTICS
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Fri., Feb. 3 --- at Boise State, 7 p.m.
• Utah State gymnastics (1-4, 1-3 MRGC) continues its 2023 season this weekend with a road meet at Boise State (0-5, 0-2 MRGC) on Friday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m.
Last Week
L, 193.425-196.600 --- BYU
• Utah State notched two individual event titles and the all-around crown, but BYU led wire-to-wire in a 196.650-195.900 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference win last weekend. Senior Sofi Sullivan tied for first on beam with a season-high 9.925, which is tied for ninth all-time in school history. Fellow senior Ariel Toomey notched her first-career title by tying for first on floor with a personal-best 9.875. And, junior Brianna Brooks won the all-round with a 38.350. USU began the meet on vault, where sophomore Amari Evans led the way with a career-best 9.750 to tie for fourth. Senior Alivia Ostendorf, junior Angel Stuart and sophomore Payton Gatzlaff all scored a 9.725 to tie for sixth. The Aggies finished with a season-high-tying 48.625 on vault, while the Cougars opened with a 49.150 on bars. In the second rotation, sophomore Dani Kirstine was one of five different USU gymnasts to score a 9.800 or higher on bars. Brooks tied Kirstine for second with a 9.875, while fifth-year senior Grace Rojas placed fourth with a 9.850. Senior Jessica Gutierrez and freshman Avery Bibbey each had a 9.800 to tie for eighth. USU finished with a season-high 49.200 on bars, but trailed BYU at the midway point of the meet, 98.075-97.825. Sullivan and Kirstine led the way for the Aggies on beam in the third rotation with their respective scores of 9.925 and 9.875. Senior Lexi Aragon matched her career high on the event with a 9.800 to tie for eighth to help USU finish with a team score of 49.000. In the final rotation, four Aggies either set or tied their career-best score. Toomey paced USU on floor with her 9.875, but Ostendorf had a career-high-tying 9.850 to tie for fourth, freshman Marley Peterson tied for seventh with a career-high-tying 9.800 and Gatzlaff placed 11th with a personal-best 9.750. USU closed the meet with a 49.075 on floor.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri., Feb. 3 --- EASTERN WASHINGTON, 11 a.m.
Sat., Feb. 4 --- GRAND CANYON, Noon
• Utah State men's tennis (0-2, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 spring season this weekend as it hosts Eastern Washington (1-2) on Friday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m., and Grand Canyon (1-3) on Saturday, Feb. 4, at noon. Both matches will be played at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club.
Last Competition
L, 1-6 --- at Oregon
L, 1-6 --- at Portland
• Utah State opened its 2023 season with a pair of 6-1 losses at Oregon and at Portland two weekends ago. Against the Ducks, seniors Javier Ruiz and Roko Savin posted a 6-4 win at the third doubles position, while junior Stijn Paardekooper posted a three-sets win at No. 3 singles (6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)) for USU's lone point in the match. Against the Pilots, Ruiz and Savin again posted a 6-4 win at the third doubles position, while Savin secured USU's lone point in the match with a three-sets win (1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)) at No. 5 singles.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Sat., Feb. 4 --- UTAH STATE INVITATIONAL, 9:30 a.m.
• Utah State's indoor track & field teams continue their 2023 season this weekend, hosting the Utah State Speed and Power Meet on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the George Nelson Fieldhouse. Field events will begin at 9:30 a.m., while running events will start at 10 a.m.
Last Week
NTS --- at Idaho State Invitational
NTS --- at Washington Invitational
• Utah State came away with six individual titles, three at each competition, and 15 total top-three finishes as it competed at both the Idaho State and Washington Invitational last weekend. At the UW Invitational, USU swept the podium of the men's 5,000 meters with senior Spencer Nelson winning the event with a time of 14:06.19, ranking fifth all-time at USU, while senior Bridger Altice and junior Max Wehrli finished second and third with times of 14:12.02 and 14:12.25, respectively, moving into seventh and eighth all-time in program history. On the women's side in the 5,000 meters, graduate senior Mica Rivera also won with a time of 16:24.57, the third-best time in the event in USU history. Junior Morgan French and sophomore Emma Thornley placed sixth and 11th in the event with times of 16:40.94 and 16:52.17, respectively, and moved to fifth and sixth all-time at USU. Junior Yonas Mogos, senior Christopher Kauffman, sophomore Wyatt Evans and freshman Drew Hogan placed fifth with a time of 9:51.42 in the men's distance medley relay, ranking fifth all-time in school history. Junior Hannah Davidson moved to 10th all-time in the 800 meters with a time of 2:13.09, placing 22nd in the competition. Senior Abby Jensen then placed 23rd in the women's 3,000 meters, recording the second-best time by an Aggie ever at 9:36.90. Graduate seniors Caleb Garnica and Mark Crandall placed 12th and 28th in the men's 3,000 meters, respectively, with times of 8:04.95 and 8:10.89. The duo moved to third and 10th all-time in the event at USU. Senior Gavin Beierle also won the men's shot put at the UW Invitational with a mark of 17.15 meters (56-3.25). Sophomore Nate Franz registered runner-up finishes in both the shot put and the weight throw with respective marks of 16.35 meters (53-7.75) and 17.15 meters (56-3.25). At the Idaho State Invitational, freshman Logan Hammer moved into a tie for ninth all-time in the pole vault in school history, winning the event with a mark of 5.05 meters (16-6.75). Senior Zach Meyer and freshman Meredith Price each recorded wins with Meyer taking first place in the final round of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.13, while Price placed first overall in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:05.55. USU recorded four more podium finishes as senior Skyler Andam finished second in the men's long jump with a mark of 7.04 meters (23-1.25), junior Abbey Bryant placed third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.71, senior Anna Parkinson finished third in the pole vault with a cleared height of 3.57 meters (11-8.50) and freshman Rylan Anderson placed third in the 400 meters with a time of 50.30.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ajay Salvesen - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., Feb. 2 --- at Colorado State, 11 a.m. (MWN)
Sat., Feb. 4 --- NEVADA, 2 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State's women's basketball (4-17, 1-9 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of games as it plays at Colorado State (13-8, 6-4 MW) on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m., and hosts Nevada (8-13, 5-5 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m. USU is 13-25 all-time against the Rams and 20-17 all-time against the Wolf Pack. Both games will be streamed live on the MW Network and available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
L, 52-64 --- WYOMING
L, 60-98 --- NEW MEXICO
• Utah State posted a 0-2 Mountain West home record last week with a 64-52 loss to Wyoming and a 98-60 loss to New Mexico. Against the Cowgirls, graduate forward Prima Chellis and senior forward Ashya Klopfenstein tied for the team lead with 12 points apiece. USU shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51), including 28.0 percent (7-of-25) from 3-point range and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) at the free throw line. UW shot 34.5 percent (20-of-58), including 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from 3-point range and 86.4 percent (19-of-22) at the charity stripe. Against the Lobos, graduate guard Maria Carvalho scored 13 points and junior guard Tamiah Robinson added 11 points. USU shot 36.8 percent (21-of-57) from the floor, 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from 3-point territory and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) mark from the charity stripe. UNM shot 52.2 percent (35-of-67) from the field, 50.0 percent (16-of-32) on 3-point attempts and 92.3 percent (12-of-13) at the free throw line.
