Aggie women happy to succeed in post-season play
A season ago, the Utah State women’s basketball team lost to San Jose State, 99-85, in the first round of the Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas. The defeat was a fitting end to a frustrating season, as the Aggies finished the year 8-23.
What a difference a year makes.
Nearly a year to the day from that loss, the Aggies dominated Nevada, 59-35, in the first round of the MW tournament on Monday.
“We had a young team last year that really had to limp through things and just survive,” said coach Jerry Finkbeiner. “The girls have learned how to serve each other and that helps in a team game. It’s not about ‘me’, it’s about ‘we’.”
Coming into the season, the Aggies were faced with the question of how to create a cohesive team with eight new freshmen and two junior college transfers. A preseason trip to Mexico helped the team to bond.
“This group really grew up last summer,” Finkbeiner said. “Tonight before we hit the floor I reminded these girls it all started in Mexico this past August.”
The team-oriented mindset was evident against Nevada. Sophomore point guard Funda Nakkasoglu, the leading scorer in the conference with 21.1 points per game, struggled from the floor, shooting 6-of-16 and 0-of-5 from behind the 3-point line.
The Aggies responded on the other end of the floor, holding Nevada to a season-low 35 points and just 11 made field goals. The Wolfpack shot 18.6 percent in the game.
“It honestly comes down to the heart and energy and effort that we personally had as a team,” Nakkasoglu said. “We knew this was our last chance. It was a do-or-die game. We had to come, give it all we had, put everything on the line and not leave anything on the court.”
Freshman center Deja Mason led the defensive effort with five blocked shots, the second-most she’s had in a game this season.
Junior forward Antoina Robinson recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
“I was trying to rebound as much as I can and run the floor and get the post players out and play my game,” Robinson said.
As a team, USU dominated Nevada on the boards, out-rebounding the Wolfpack 48-34.
With a matchup against two-seed Fresno State looming, the Aggies are relying on the bonds they’ve built with each other to carry them through.
“This is a fun group of young ladies,” Finkbeiner said. “We have very little baggage, very little drama. It’s just a good group, it’s fun to coach. It’s fun to see them develop and get this first win in the tournament.”
“We’re a happy group,” Finkbeiner added. “And win or lose tomorrow, I think we’re still going to be pretty good kids.”
– thomas.sorenson@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @tomcat340