Box Score OMAHA, Nebraska – The Aggies pieced together a furious rally in the fourth quarter, erasing a 14-point deficit in the final frame, but Utah State women's basketball ultimately lost in overtime, 79-77, to Omaha on Tuesday night at Baxter Arena.
 
Neither side led by more than six points through the first half. In the opening frame, the Mavericks used an 8-2 stretch to build an early lead and maintain it for a 23-17 lead after one. Both teams shot over 40 percent from the field in the opening frame, but Utah State alone maintained that rate through the second quarter. Senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs kickstarted the Aggie run with a driving layup before draining a 3-pointer off of an offensive rebound from junior guard Mia Tarver. Junior guard Jamisyn Heaton tied the game at 29 with a driving layup plus a foul, converting the and-one opportunity, before freshman guard/forward Taliyah Logwood put USU in front with a layup. The Mavericks responded with a bucket of their own to send the teams into halftime tied at 31.
 
After continuing to play to a draw through the first few minutes of the third quarter, the Mavericks pieced together a 12-0 to take a 47-35 lead. The Aggies fought back, connecting on three consecutive 3-pointers. The 3-point barrage coincided with an equal 3-point attack from Omaha as the home side also drained three 3s to maintain their lead and enter the final frame with a 60-46 advantage.
 
The Aggies went to work to begin the fourth, using a 9-2 burst to trim the deficit to single digits, with Tarver capping off the run with a 3-pointer to bring USU back with six. Tarver continued to lead the charge on Utah State's comeback, driving the lane for a layup to further cut the deficit to five. Following a flagrant foul called on Omaha, Stubbs brought the Aggies within four at the free throw line before Tarver hit her third 3-pointer of the game to trim the Mavericks' lead to a single point in the final minute. With 25 seconds remaining, Stubbs completed the comeback with another trip to the free throw line and the Aggie defense held strong on Omaha's final possession to force overtime at 72-72.
 
In the extra period, junior forward/center Sophie Sene scored a pair of layups in the post to give the Aggies the lead at 77-76. The Mavericks retook the lead in the final minute, however, and strung together several stops and FTs to take a two-point lead with 9.2 seconds remaining. On the final possession, USU's attempts to tie the game at the rim were halted by the Omaha defense to give the home side the 79-77 win.
 
Heaton led USU with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, recording her first career double-double with 12 rebounds and also adding three steals and two blocks. Tarver finished close behind with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc, plus three assists, two steals and a block. Logwood was the final Aggie in double figures with 13 points, narrowly missing a double-double with eight rebounds. Stubbs led Utah State with five assists, also adding seven points, six rebounds and three steals.
 
Utah State shot 42.3 percent (30-of-71) from the field and 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from 3-point territory. The Aggies held the Mavericks to 40.8 percent (29-of-71) shooting from the floor and 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from behind the arc. USU also outrebounded Omaha, 47-45, and held the advantage in turnovers forced (22-21) and points in the paint (44-42).
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies head to Florida to compete in the Daytona Beach Classic. Utah State will take on No. 11 Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 29, at 1:30 p.m. (MT), before concluding the week against Stetson on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 9 a.m. (MT).
 
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 schedule are available now. Fans can make a deposit to save their seat here or by calling the USU Ticket Office at (435) 797-0305.
 
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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