USU women’s basketball improving with young core
Funda Nakkasoglu scored 32 points and dished out eight assists during Saturday’s win, but she’s not the only reason Utah State won.
“I was real motivated,” Nakkasoglu said. “For myself, I wanted to play well. For the team, I wanted to play well because I knew if I wasn’t executing there wouldn’t be much going on. I wanted it for our team.”
The Aggies, who have the youngest combined starting five in the nation, beat Wyoming 84-75 with contributions from the entire team.
“We are gaining traction now,” said USU’s coach Jerry Finkbeiner. “This team is gaining confidence in that traction and you’re starting to feel it in the way they play.”
Last season, Utah State went 8-23 after losing some key players in the offseason and during the year. Nakkasoglu took over and scored 17.4 points per game. There was no disputing the talent she had. However, one player isn’t enough to win consistently.
This year, USU added a young core of players and have already won more games than last year. The Aggies are 11-11 overall with a 6-5 record in the Mountain West. In conference play only two of the losses have been double digits.
“We only have one team that really beat us,” Finkbeiner said. “Every other game, we’ve been in it.”
Nakkasoglu is ranked No. 13 in the nation, averaging 21.4 points per game. She also ranks second in free throws made with 154; Kelsey Plum from Washington leads the nation with 175. Nakkasoglu is also in the top 100 in assists, free throw percentage and field goals made.
“I think the sky is the limit for Funda,” Finkbeiner said. “She’s averaging 21 points a game right now; next year she could average 26 a game. This year five or six assists, who knows how high the roof is as we get players around her that also do things well.”
Against Wyoming Nakkasoglu put up a great stat line, but not to be lost in the shuffle were great plays by the Aggie bench that put up 23 points.
“Defense is breeding what we do now,” Nakkasglu said. “We needed other people to step up and take their player on. We’ve been working on it in practice, getting them easy layups and baskets. We’ve added some new looks to our offense to give them more opportunities as well.”
Freshman center Deja Mason had a career-high 11 points and eight rebounds, seven of which were offensive, in just 12 minutes of playing time. Antoina Robinson had six rebounds and four points off the bench and Tijana Djukic added seven boards and six points as well.
Freshmen guards Katie Toole and Rachel Brewster chipped in five and 12 points, respectively; they also each had five rebounds. Sophomore center Hannah Hutchins had nine rebounds. Hutchins only had four points but has scored in double figures three times and has two double doubles on the year.
“Funda has a lot more players around her this year,” Finkbeiner said. “There’s more playmakers that can finish plays. It was nice to have Ju-Ju (Julianne Anchling) hit a couple threes in the fourth quarter, Rachel Brewster, all our post players, we’re getting more of a well-rounded game.”
— kalen.s.taylor@gmail.com
Twitter: @kalen_taylor