Aggie Tip-Off
Utah State women's basketball (0-0, 0-0 MW) opens its 2023-24 campaign this week with a pair of games. The Aggies first travel to Northridge, California, to face CSUN on Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. (MT), then return home to host Eastern Washington on Friday, Nov. 10, at 5 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 Matadors
• In 2022-23, CSUN posted a 7-24 overall record with a 6-14 mark in conference play to finish ninth in the Big West.
• The team returns two starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad.
• Junior forward Kayanna Spriggs is the team's top returner in both points (4.8) and rebounds (3.6). Junior forward Ana Carolina De Jesus is the team's top returner from last year with .5 assists per game.
Scouting the Eagles
• In 2022-23, Eastern Washington posted a 19-11 overall record with an 11-7 mark in conference play to finish fourth in the Big Sky.
• The team returns every starter and 11 of 12 letterwinners from last year's squad.
• Junior forward Jaydia Martin is the team's top returning scorer at 16.1 points per game. Senior guard Jacinta Buckley, a UNLV transfer, leads all returners on the glass (7.4), while graduate guard Jamie Loera averaged a team-best 5.0 assists per game last year.
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.
Aggies in Season Openers
• Utah State is a perfect 3-0 in season openers under coach Kayla Ard, and has won five of its past seven opening day matchups overall.
• Last season, the Aggies opened the year with a 75-58 victory over College of Idaho. This will be the first time USU has opened the year on away from home since 2018-19.
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.
Up Next
Utah State continues its season next week with a pair of contests. The Aggies first travel to take on Kansas City on Tuesday, Nov. 14, then return home to face Weber State on Friday, Nov. 17, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
