Aggie Tip-Off
Utah State women's basketball (0-2, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023-24 campaign this week with a pair of games. The Aggies first travel to Kansas City, Missouri, to face Kansas City on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. (MT), then return home to host Weber State on Friday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
 
How to Follow
Radio coverage for all games will be provided on 107.7 FM, with Ajay Salvesen on the call. Live stats and streaming information will be available on utahstateaggies.com, while updates will also be provided through the team's social media outlets.
 
Scouting the Roos
• In 2022-23, Kansas City posted a 9-23 overall record with a 3-15 mark in conference play to finish last in the Summit League.
• The team returns one starter and three letterwinners from last year's squad. 
• Sophomore guard Alayna Contreras is the team's top scorer and facilitator this year, averaging 14.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. Graduate forward Ifunanya Nwachukwu leads the squad on the glass with 10.0 boards per game. 
 
Scouting the Wildcats
• In 2022-23, Weber State posted a 6-25 overall record with a 2-16 mark in conference play to finish last in the Big Sky. 
• The team returns all five starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad. 
• Junior guard Kendra Parra is the team's top scorer at 12.0 points per game. Senior forward Daryn Hickock, leads the Wildcats on the glass (5.5 rpg), while junior guard Kaija Lesane averages a team-best 2.5 assists per game. 
 
Bridge-ing the Gap
• Utah State junior forward Bridget Mullings, is off to a strong start to her Aggie career, putting up big performances in each of her first two games. 
• Against CSUN, Mullings led the team with a 17-points, 10-rebound double-double, team-highs in both categories. She followed that performance with a 19-point, eight-rebound showing in just 19 minutes against Eastern Washington. 
• On the week, she shot an efficient 9-of-13 (.692) from the field. 
 
ICYMI
Utah State opened its season with a pair of games last week, falling at CSUN 79-64, then dropping a 75-39 decision versus Eastern Washington in its home opener. 
 
Doing it All
In the team's season opener against CSUN, Skye Miller did a little bit of everything. The junior guard finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, a team-high four assists and a steal. 
 
New Year, New Faces
• Utah State welcomes in 12 newcomers this year, tied for the most in NCAA Division I. The 12 new faces include nine transfers and three freshmen. 
• Incoming transfers include guard Ivory Finley (UMass Lowell), guard Livia Knapp (College of Southern Idaho), guard Skye Miller (Eastern Arizona College), forward Bridget Mullings (UC San Diego), guard Macy Smith (CSUN), guard Taylia Stimpson (Utah Tech), guard Cheyenne Stubbs (Canisius), guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga (Snow College) and forward Allyzee Verdan (Salt Lake CC).
• Incoming freshmen include forward Lauren Crocker (Calgary, Canada), forward Gracie Johnson (Nyssa, Oregon) and guard Ali Wetta (Castle Rock, Colorado).
 
NCAA DI teams with the most newcomers this season:
- Utah State - 12
- UT Arlington - 12
- Tarleton State - 12
- Buffalo - 11
- Evansville - 10
- UTEP - 10
- Old Dominion - 10
- Pepperdine - 10
Welcome Back
Along with the 12 new faces, USU also welcomes back a trio of players. Sophomore guard Isabella Tañedo is the team's lone returning letterwinner after making 27 appearances last season. Junior forward Lillian Harris appeared in 13 games in 2022-23, while sophomore forward Tiairra Hill-Brown played two contests before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. 
 
It Runs in the Family
This year's team has a pair of players with family ties to Utah State. Junior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga is the daughter of former Aggie football player who played tight end at USU from 2000-01. Additionally, freshman forward Gracie Johnson's older brother, Isaac, is currently a redshirt sophomore on the Utah State men's basketball team. 
 
Reunited and it Feels so Good
There is a reunion of former teammates happening this year in Logan, as junior guards Skye Miller and Livia Knapp are on the same team once again. The duo played club ball together in Portland, Oregon, before going their separate ways and each having a strong start to their collegiate career at the junior college level. 
 
Well-Traveled
Utah State has players from 10 different states on its roster, plus two international players in senior forward Allyzee Verdan (French Guiana) and freshman forward Lauren Crocker (Calgary, Canada). Maryland, Minnesota and Oregon are the only states with multiple players, two each. 
 
Both Ends of the Spectrum
This season's Aggie roster features a wide range in the height column. Utah State has the tallest player in the Mountain West, as Gracie Johnson stands at 6-foot-6, while at just 5-foot-4, Isabella Tañedo is the second-shortest player in the league. 
 
Schedule Notes
• Utah State will play 11 non-conference games this year, including three against in-state opponents (Weber State, @Utah Valley, @BYU).
• The Aggies have four Big Sky teams and two Big West teams on their non-conference slate, along with foes from the Summit League, WAC and Big 12.
• USU's Mountain West campaign begins on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, when the Aggies face UNLV.