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Utah State women's basketball junior guard Mia Tarver is introduced as a starter for USU's game against Utah at the Delta Center

Women’s Basketball Wraps Up Month-Long Road Trip at Idaho

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Women's Basketball 12/13/2024 1:48:00 PM
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State women's basketball concludes its month-long stretch away from home by taking on Idaho on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m., before returning to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to host UC Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Sunday's game against Idaho will be available for streaming on ESPN+, while Wednesday's game versus UC Riverside will stream on the Mountain West Network. Radio coverage for all games will be provided on 107.7 FM, with Ajay Salvesen on the call. Links to live stats for all games will be available on utahstateaggies.com, while updates will also be provided through the team's social media outlets.
 
AGGIES VS EVERYONE
Utah State and Idaho will meet for the 28th time on Sunday, with the Vandals holding a 15-12 edge in the series. Idaho has won three straight in the series, though the Aggies claimed nine of 10 meetings prior to the current stretch. USU and Idaho were both members of the Big West from 2003-05 and the WAC from 2005-13. Utah State held a 12-11 series edge over this time. The teams also met thrice in the WAC Tournament: a 70-59 Vandal win in 2006, a 59-58 overtime Aggie victory in 2009, and an 84-82 Idaho win in the teams' final matchup as conference mates in 2013. The two sides also met in the WBI tournament in 2017, resulting in a 64-57 Idaho win. USU is 5-8 all-time against Idaho in Moscow.
 
ON THE UPSWING
Utah State ranks at the top of the Mountain West and near the top of the nation in several year-over-year improvements from the 2023-24 season. This season, the Aggies are averaging 7.0 more points per game than last year, the largest jump in the MW. USU also has stolen 4.8 more steals per game and forced 7.5 more turnovers per game this season than last, the sixth- and fifth-largest jumps in the nation, respectively. Other year-over-year improvements from the Aggies include 8.4 more possessions per game (first in MW, sixth in nation), 9.2 more field goal attempts per game (first in MW, fifth in nation), 3.5 more made 3-point field goals per game (first in MW), 13.8 more 3-point attempts per game (first in MW, second in nation) and a 15.8 percent increase in 3-point rate (first in MW, first in nation).
 
FOUR OF A KIND
USU currently has four Aggies averaging double figures in scoring, led by senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs with 12.6 points per game. Junior guard Jamisyn Heaton ranks second with 10.8 points per game, while junior guard Mia Tarver and freshman guard Taliyah Logwood each average 10.0 points per game. This would be only the fifth time in program history that four players have averaged double figures in scoring, and the first time since the 2011-12 season when Ashlee Brown, Devyn Christensen, Brooke Jackson and Maddy Plunkett achieved the feat.
 
I AM SPEED
The Aggies currently rank as the fastest team in the Mountain West and the 14th-fastest in the nation, averaging 79.0 possessions per 40 minutes. New Mexico ranks second in the MW with 74.0 possessions per 40 minutes, while Niagara currently leads the nation with 85.8 possessions per 40 minutes. 
 
OUTSIZED EFFECT
Utah State is the only team in the Mountain West that boasts two guards that average at least two offensive rebounds per game on the season. Junior guard Jamisyn Heaton leads the Aggies with 6.5 boards per game and has brought down 21 offensive rebounds, averaging 2.1 per contest, while freshman guard/forward Taliyah Logwood has corralled 19 offensive rebounds this season, averaging 2.4 per game. 
 
LET IT FLY
Utah State is currently seventh in the nation with 30.7 attempts from 3-point range per game this season. The Aggies also rank 36th nationally with 8.4 made 3-pointers per game. USU's 3-point rate (the number of 3-point attempts relative to a team's total field goal attempts) of 43.2 percent also ranks first in the MW and seventh nationally. Colorado State ranks second in the MW with 40.3 percent and Lipscomb ranks first nationally with a 3-point rate of 46.3 percent. 
 
FREEBIES
After a slow start from the charity stripe to begin the season, the Aggies have greatly improved from the FT line over its last few games. Heaton has led the charge for the Aggies, shooting a perfect 13-for-14 on FTs in the team's last four contests. Heaton now ranks ninth in the MW with a FT percentage of 72.2 this year.
 
HEATON UP
Heaton recorded her first career double-double against Omaha, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Aggies. Utah State has two double-doubles on the season as Stubbs recorded her third career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against CSUN.
 
STOLEN GOODS
Mia Tarver came away with a career-high seven steals against CSUN, a feat only accomplished 28 times previously by a total of 19 players in school history. Only four players have recorded at least seven steals in on game since the program's reinstatement in 2003 (Elise Nelson twice, Alice Coddington twice, Jenna Johnson, Danyelle Snelgro). Tarver's seven steals are tied for the 14th-most all-time for a single game at Utah State. Tarver currently ranks fourth in the MW with 2.5 steals per game. Stubbs and Logwood rank close behind at fifth and sixth in the MW, respectively, with 2.3 steals per game each. As a team, the Aggies have been a steals machine to start the season, ranking 39th nationally and second in the Mountain West with 11.5 steals per contest.
 
AROUND THE (NATION) IN (34) DAYS
The Aggies conclude an eight-game road trip this weekend at Idaho. USU will return to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Wednesday, Dec. 18, to host UC Riverside, a full 34 days since the team's previous home outing against Cal State Bakersfield on Nov. 14. Utah State's 34 days between home games is the sixth-longest in the nation this season, ranking behind Columbia (47 days), UC Irvine (46), Texas A&M-Commerce (45), Stephen F. Austin (40) and William & Mary (35). By total road and neutral games played between home games, Utah State's eight games is tied for the longest streak in the nation alongside Stephen F. Austin. 
 
STARTER JACKETS
Utah State returns two full-time starters from last year in senior guards Cheyenne Stubbs and Ivory Finley. The Aggies also return a further two players with starting experience. Senior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga started the final 13 games of the 2023-24 season, while senior forward Allyzee Verdan made nine total starts on the year, including each of the last seven games.
 
INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
Last season, Stubbs put up one of the top-scoring seasons in program history. Stubbs finished the season with 482 points, passing Devyn Christensen (2011-12) and Ashlee Brown (2011-12) to move into eighth all-time at USU. 
 
                Rk          Player Year     Points
                6.            Funda Nakkasoglu     2014-15              504
                7.            April Hatch      1983-84             487
                8.            Cheyenne Stubbs     2023-24             482
                9.            Ashlee Brown 2011-12              468
                10.         Devyn Christensen     2011-12              467
 
Stubbs' average of 16.1 points per game narrowly missed the all-time top-10 at USU. However, Stubbs did break into the top-10 in several other categories for a single season, including 3-pointers made (fifth, 59) and attempted (fourth, 174). Stubbs led the Aggies in scoring in 22 games on the year, the most times as USU's leading scorer in a single season since Funda Nakkasoglu had 25 team-leading outings in 2015-16. 
 
EN FUEGO
Stubbs recorded a pair of 30-point games in 2023-24, becoming just the 19th player in program history to ever top the 30-point plateau, and only the 12th to do so in multiple games. Stubbs posted a career-high 32 points in Utah State's win at Nevada on Jan. 31, going 10-of-24 shooting (.417) from the floor, 2-of-8 shooting (.250) from 3-point range and 10-of-14 shooting (.714) from the charity stripe. Against UNLV, Stubbs also finished with 30 points on 7-15 shooting (.467), including a 5-9 performance from deep (.556), and went (11-14) from the free throw line. She is just the 10th Aggie with multiple 30-point games in the same season. In total, Utah State has seen 48 games in which an Aggie has hit 30 points or more. Stubbs' 32 points against Nevada are tied for the 20th-most in a game in Aggie history. 
 
BLOCK PARTY
Utah State freshman forward Gracie Johnson is one of just four players in program history to have three games with five or more blocks in a season. Additionally, she became just the second freshman to ever do so, joining all-time program block leader Deja Mason. With eight blocks against Boise State, Johnson tied the all-time program record for blocks in a single game. Johnson finished the season with 36 blocks and now has 45 for her career, needing only 22 more to break into the top-10 all-time at Utah State.
 
KEEP AN EYE ON THIS
Senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs needs only 13 more appearances to qualify for Utah State's all-time career socring average list (50 games minimum). Stubbs' current scoring average of 15.4 points per game in an Aggie uniform would rank fourth all-time in program history.
 
TOP SCORERS
Utah State returns its top scorer from 25 of 31 games last season, including the team's exhibition. Stubbs led the Aggies with 22 games as the leading scorer last season, while each of senior forrward Allyzee Verdan, senior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga and senior guard Ivory Finley each recorded one game as USU's leading scorer.
 
WELL-TRAVELED
Utah State has players from eight different states on its roster, plus three international players in senior forward Allyzee Verdan (French Guiana), junior forward/center Sophie Sene (France) and freshman guard Denae Skelton (Canada). This is the most international players on USU's roster since fielding four such players in 2019-20. Utah (four) and Idaho (three) are the only states from which multiple Aggies hail. This is the first time Utah has been the most populous state on USU's roster since the 2021-22 season.
 
TRUE BLUE AGGIES
This year's team has a pair of players with family ties to Utah State. Senior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga is the daughter of former Aggie football player Jay Suguturaga, who played tight end at USU from 2000-01. Additionally, sophomore forward Gracie Johnson's older brother, Isaac, is currently a junior on the Utah State men's basketball team. Johnson's father, Darren, played for the USU men's team in 1990-91, while her grandfather, Ronald, also played at Utah State. 
 
NEW TEAM, WHO DIS?
The Aggies welcome 10 newcomers to the 2024-25 squad. Utah State brings in three transfers in juniors Sophie Sene (Rhode Island), Mia Tarver (Salt Lake CC) and Jamisyn Heaton (College of Southern Idaho). USU brings in a total of seven freshmen, including Ava Smith (Camas, Washington), Denae Skelton (West Kelowna, B.C., Canada), Riley Ward (Preston, Idaho), Carlie Latta (Paul, Idaho), Karlie Banks (Laclede, Idaho), Elise Livingston (Millville, Utah) and Taliyah Logwood (Richmond, California).
 
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Several players have family ties to athletes who have played at the collegiate level, with several also playing professionally. Freshman guard/foward Taliyah Logwood has a pair of cousins in Brian Johnson and Raelon Singleton who each played football at Utah, with Brian Johnson also now serving as an assistant head coach and passing game coordinator for the Washington Commanders of the NFL. Freshman guard Elise Livingston's sister, Erin, played volleyball for four years at BYU and signed with the Las Vegas Thrill of the Pro Volleyball Federation.  Freshman guard Ava Smith's father, Matthew, played football and won an NAIA Division II national title at Central Washington University. Freshman guard Denae Skelton's brother, Kaeden, played basketball for the University of British Columbia in Okanagan. Freshman guard Carlie Latta's sister, Aubrie Vale, played basketball at Westminster in 2019. Both senior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga and sophomore forward Gracie Johnson have aforementioned ties to Utah State, while Johnson also has an older brother, Spencer, who played basketball at BYU.
 
DE LA GUYANE FRANÇAISE À LOGAN
Utah State senior forward Allyzee Verdan joined the Aggies all the way from her home country of French Guiana, a small South American country bordering Brazil to the north. She is one of just two French Guiana natives in Division I women's basketball, along with Duquesne's Raymi Couëta.
 
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 schedule are available now. Fans can purchase their tickets 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.
 
- USU -
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Players Mentioned

Ivory Finley

#0 Ivory Finley

Guard
5' 10"
Senior
Gracie Johnson

#15 Gracie Johnson

Forward
6' 6"
Sophomore
Cheyenne Stubbs

#24 Cheyenne Stubbs

Guard
5' 5"
Senior
Samiana Suguturaga

#1 Samiana Suguturaga

Guard/Forward
5' 11"
Senior
Allyzee Verdan

#31 Allyzee Verdan

Forward
6' 2"
Senior
Elise Livingston

#12 Elise Livingston

Guard
5' 9"
Freshman
Sophie Sene

#55 Sophie Sene

Forward/Center
6' 3"
Junior
Jamisyn Heaton

#32 Jamisyn Heaton

Guard
5' 10"
Junior
Mia Tarver

#23 Mia Tarver

Guard
5' 7"
Junior
Ava Smith

#3 Ava Smith

Guard
5' 8"
Freshman
Karlie Banks

#11 Karlie Banks

Guard/Forward
5' 11"
Freshman
Denae Skelton

#4 Denae Skelton

Guard
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ivory Finley

#0 Ivory Finley

5' 10"
Senior
Guard
Gracie Johnson

#15 Gracie Johnson

6' 6"
Sophomore
Forward
Cheyenne Stubbs

#24 Cheyenne Stubbs

5' 5"
Senior
Guard
Samiana Suguturaga

#1 Samiana Suguturaga

5' 11"
Senior
Guard/Forward
Allyzee Verdan

#31 Allyzee Verdan

6' 2"
Senior
Forward
Elise Livingston

#12 Elise Livingston

5' 9"
Freshman
Guard
Sophie Sene

#55 Sophie Sene

6' 3"
Junior
Forward/Center
Jamisyn Heaton

#32 Jamisyn Heaton

5' 10"
Junior
Guard
Mia Tarver

#23 Mia Tarver

5' 7"
Junior
Guard
Ava Smith

#3 Ava Smith

5' 8"
Freshman
Guard
Karlie Banks

#11 Karlie Banks

5' 11"
Freshman
Guard/Forward
Denae Skelton

#4 Denae Skelton

5' 8"
Freshman
Guard
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