Fullerton gets the best of women’s team
The Utah State women’s basketball team was only one win away from breaking at 24-year-old record, but with its 64-55 loss to the last team in the Big West Conference, Cal State Fullerton, the Ags are going to have to start counting again.
Going into the game, Utah State was tied for fourth in the Big West Conference and Fullerton, 1-12, was last. With the loss the Ags ended their winning streak at three games and dropped to 3-3 in conference play and gave the Titans their first conference win.
Although the Ags were the heavy favorites, they gave the lead up early in the first half and trailed for the rest of the game.
In the opening minutes of the first half, USU couldn’t buy a basket and allowed Fullerton to have an early lead. But the Ags finally started to find the basket and quickly went up 6-5 over the Titans.
However, USU had a drought and once again gave the Titans a chance to get the lead again. For the rest of the half Fullerton continued to increase its lead until with just over three minutes left, the Ags began to claw their way back into the game.
With less than a minute left USU came within one, but a last second shot from Fullerton gave the Titans a three-point cushion as the teams headed into the locker room.
In the second half, Fullerton came out shooting and increased their lead again. But the Ags were not going to get too far behind the last team in the Big West Conference and three treys in a row from Brittany Hagan and two from Christina Zdenek brought Utah State back within one.
The Ags missed their chance to take their first lead of the half and every time USU came close to coming out on top in the second half, the Titans were able to build up their lead again.
A 3-pointer from Andrea Adams, who led all players with 16 points, with close to two minutes left put the Aggies down by 12 and all but sealed the win for the Titans.
Utah State was led by two players in double-digits. Zdenek finished the game with 10 points, all coming in the second half. Jessica Freeman also finished the game with 10 points.
Brittany Tressler was key in the first half, leading the way with eight points. But the Aggies’ leading scorer was unable to find the basket in the second half and finished the game with eight points and seven rebounds.
Ali Aird, who averaged 13.5 points in the Aggies’ wins over Pacific and Northridge last week, finished the game with two points.
The Titans were led by Adams and Charlee Underwood, who finished the game with 13 points. Melanie Mosely pulled down 18 boards for the Titans.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu