Jan. 21, 2012
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LOGAN, Utah - Behind a school-record field-goal percentage, the Utah State women's basketball team cruised past Nevada, 91-69, Saturday at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies shot 58.6 percent from the field which breaks the school record which was 58.3 percent against New Mexico State in 1982.
The 91 points was the second-most points this season for the Aggies after scoring 97 against Boise State on Nov. 23 at home.
With the win, USU improves to 12-6 overall and 3-1 in Western Athletic Conference action. The Wolf Pack fall to 4-13 overall and 0-2 in league play. The 3-1 conference start is the best ever for Utah State in its seven seasons in the WAC.
The Aggies had a season-high six players reach double figures, including a career high 10 points from freshman forward Franny Vaaulu. Utah State was led by junior guard Devyn Christensen's 22 points. Senior forward Ashlee Brown added 12 points and seven rebounds to go along with four assists, three blocks and one steal. Senior forward Maddy Plunkett and junior guard Jenna Johnson added 11 points, while junior center Banna Diop added 10.
The Wolf Pack were led by 23 points from Kate Kervoken, who also added five boards and three assists. Amanda Johnson added 12 points, while Chanelle Brennan scored 10.
Nevada scored the first basket of the game and did not have the lead the rest of the game. After a lay up by Christensen, the Aggies took their first double-digit lead of the game, 19-9. As the lead remained in double figures much of the half, Nevada was able to cut the lead to seven points, 27-20 with 9:11 left in the half after an old-fashioned three-point play by Kervoken.
USU used a 9-0 run to improve its lead to 22 after a lay up by Diop. The Aggies took their biggest advantage of the half 25 points with 1:41 remaining in the half after another Diop bucket. The half would end with Utah State taking a 53-30 lead into the locker room.
In the first half, the Aggies were led by 16 points from Christensen who was 4-of-6 from three in the first half. Brown added 10 points and five rebounds as well. USU was dominate in the paint, out-scoring Nevada 32-14 in the first 20 minutes.
Nevada was led by a game-high 18 first-half points from Kevorken as the Wolf Pack was playing without starter Kayla Williams. Kevorken scored 18 of Nevada's 30 points in the first-half points.
In the second half, Nevada started strong, scoring the first four points. With 16:33 remaining in the game, a jumper by Arielle Wideman cut the Aggie lead to 17 points. Nevada would never get any closer in the game.
Four-straight points by the Aggies gave USU its biggest lead of the game, 77-48, with 7:41 left in the game. Utah State was able to use its bench frequently in the game as the Aggie reserves out-scored the Wolf Pack's, 39-15.
The 23 assists was the second-most of the season for Utah State, while the seven blocks tied a season high.
USU ended the game 34-of-58 (58.6 percent) from the floor. The Aggies were 6-of-13 from three-point range (46.2 percent), while shooting 17-of-22 (77.3 percent) from the charity stripe. Nevada was 27-of-62 (43.5 percent) from the field, making 5-of-18 threes (27.8 percent). The Wolf Pack was 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line.
Utah State now hits the road for its longest WAC road trip of the season. Next week, the Aggies have only one game, traveling to Moscow to take on Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (MT). USU will remain on the road to face San Jose State on Feb. 2 and Hawai`i on Feb. 4.
Fans can follow USU women's basketball at http://twitter.com/UTAHSTATEofmind and Utah State athletics at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.
Live stats will be available for most Utah State women's basketball games through the women's basketball page on www.utahstateaggies.com, by clicking on GameTracker in the current events box. All home games can be viewed by clicking on "Watch Live."
For tickets contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435)797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for more information or visit the Utah State athletic web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
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