Women’s season ends in SLC
staff writer, sports editor
USU 69, LTU 73
LAS VEGAS – In a record-setting season, the Utah State women’s basketball team fell short of the record it wanted most: Western Athletic Conference championship.
Senior forward Ashlee Brown scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to top a sharp-shooting Louisiana Tech team in the semifinal of the WAC tournament Friday as the Lady Techsters defeated the Aggies 73-69.
“I love Ashlee Brown,” USU head coach Raegan Pebley said. “I wish I could clone her. I love her confidence, I love her swag, I love her game, I love her off-court persona. She’s a stud. She’s a champ, a warrior. I am so blessed that I got to coach her.”
For the first 15 minutes the Aggies controlled the game, as Brown recorded 13 points and finished one rebound short of a double-double in the first half. The WAC Defensive Player of the Year dominated the offensive end of the court, scoring six points during a 9-2 Utah State run that turned a two-point deficit into a five-point lead – its biggest of the game.
Louisiana Tech responded in a big way.
During the final five minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the second half, the Lady Techsters used a 25-9 run to take control. Senior guards Jasmine Bendolph and Angie Felton combined for 15 points during the stretch and La. Tech made 10 of 15 field-goal attempts.
Over the next 14 minutes the Aggies were unable to cut into the deficit. La. Tech led 62-52 with about six minutes remaining when junior guard Devyn Christensen twisted her ankle on offense.
With its leading scorer on the bench, USU found a spark and went on a 17-9 run. Aggie guard Brooke Jackson converted a three-point play after being fouled driving to the basket, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass to give USU a chance to tie the game or take the lead with 31 seconds left.
Christensen returned to the game but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with 22 seconds left.
“We had Ashlee (Brown) that was going to be an option,” Pebley said. “We knew that they were going to play it, and it would be tough to get her open with a continuation with (Christensen) right there. Those are moments Devyn lives for, and she’s heartbroken right now.”
With the loss, the Aggies were eliminated from the tournament and finished the season with a 21-9 record overall.
“Our kids gave all that they had,” Pebley said. “There’s young ladies that are great faces of our program that I am honored to coach. When they put on that Aggie uniform, they do it with a lot of pride.”
USU 69, Utah 58
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah State women’s basketball team lost to Utah, 69-58, in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Thursday.
Utah started things off with a bucket from sophomore guard Taryn Wicijowski, who finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks. It was the last time the Utes would lead in the first half at 2-0.
Utah State completely took the game over in the first half. Senior forward Ashlee Brown hit a 15-foot jump shot three minutes into the game to give the Aggies a 4-2 lead.
“We were just playing our game and sharing the ball,” Brown said. “We got out and pushed ourselves. We handled the ball very well.”
Brown hit another jumper in the paint to put USU on top 29-15 with 2:38 left – the largest Aggie lead of the half.
The senior finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Aggie press kept USU in the game. USU scored 14 points off of Ute turnovers in the first half, compared to zero for Utah.
The se
cond half was not so positive for the Aggies.
Utah went on a 9-2 run to pull within seven and close out the half, then continued on a 14-5 run to take the 38-36 lead with a little more than 15 minutes remaining in the second half.
“They did the things they definitely wanted to come out and do,” USU head coach Reagan Pebley said of Utah’s second-half performance. “They showed some more patience. They just executed better.”
Wicijowski and fellow sophomore forward Michelle Plouffe dominated the post in the second half, and the Utes dictated the rest of the game. The two combined for 30 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks.
“They got on the O-boards, got some second-chance opportunities,” Pebley said. “We didn’t capitalize on the time the ball was in the air.”
Utah outscored the Aggies 45-27 in the second half en route to the 11-point victory.
USU finished the 2011-12 season with the loss but earned a school-record 21 wins.
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu,
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu