LOGAN, Utah – Utah State women's basketball erased a double-digit halftime deficit to force overtime on Saturday at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, but ultimately fell short in overtime against Fresno State, 81-73.
 
The Aggies opened the game with a 4-0 burst courtesy of layups from junior center Sophie Sene and freshman guard/forward Taliyah Logwood. The four-point lead was tied for the largest for either team through the first 15 minutes of the game as both sides wrestled for control of the contest. After the Bulldogs built their own 4-point lead early in the second quarter, the Aggies responded with a 5-0 stretch featuring a layup from junior guard Mia Tarver and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Carlie Latta to retake the lead at 20-19. Fresno State then made the first sizable move of the game with an 11-2 run to jump out in front. Senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs hit a runner in the lane to bring USU back within 10 heading into halftime.
 
Utah State went to work on a comeback in the second half. After trailing by as many as 12 late in the second quarter, the Aggies went on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to only three points at 36-33. The Bulldogs answered back with a short run to go back up by 11 early in the fourth quarter, forcing USU to again regroup for another comeback attempt in the final frame.
 
Following the 11-point deficit, USU blitzed FS with an 8-0 run featuring 3-pointers from both Tarver and freshman guard Elise Livingston, trimming the lead down again to three points. Again, Fresno State answered and rebuilt their advantage back to nine points with three-and-a-half minutes remaining. Utah State went back to the 3-point well on their next two possessions with Stubbs and Logwood both hitting from behind the arc to again bring the Aggies within three points.
 
USU drew within a single point on two occasions as Heaton and Logwood both went a perfect 2-for-2 on trips to the free throw line in the final minutes, but the Aggies were unable to fully erase the deficit until their final possession. Down three points in the final seconds, Latta drew a foul on a 3-point attempt with 0.4 seconds remaining. Needing to hit the FTs to force overtime, the freshman from Paul, Idaho, calmly sank all three freebies to tie the game at 66 and send the game to an extra period.
 
In overtime, the Aggies answered the Bulldogs' opening bucket to tie the game at 68 before Fresno State used a 9-2 run to take a seven-point lead in the final minute. Another triple from Latta cut the deficit back down to four points with 28 seconds remaining, but Utah State was unable to repeat their regulation comeback in the extra period as FS took the 81-73 win.
 
The Aggies had four players reach double figures in scoring, with another two finishing with nine points. Logwood led the team with 13 points, also adding five rebounds plus one block and one steal. Sene set new career-high marks both with 12 points and 12 rebounds, recording her first career double-double. Tarver finished with 11 points alongside six rebounds and tied for the team lead with two steals alongside Heaton. Stubbs was the final Aggie in double figures with 10 points. Livingston added nine points, all on 3-pointers, and added four rebounds and three assists. Latta also finished with nine points and led the Aggies with five assists. 
 
USU outrebounded FS, 46-44. The Aggies recorded 17 offensive rebounds to the Bulldogs' six, also outscoring the visitors in second chance points, 19-5. Utah State also held a 10-0 edge in fastbreak points.
 
Utah State recorded 10 3-pointers as a team, their ninth game this season with double-digit 3s, surpassing the program record for such games set in the 2012-13 season. The Aggies have hit 195 3-pointers this season, the third-most 3-pointers for a single season in program history. USU needs only two more 3s to move into second all-time, while the 2012-13 season holds the program record with 247 made triples.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies head back to the road to take on Colorado State on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. MT, before heading west to face San Diego State on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. MT.
 
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 schedule are available now. Fans can purchase 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.
 
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