Aggie women’s basketball opens vs. Utah Pride Wednesday at 5 p.m.
USU women’s basketball is gearing up to play its first exhibition game Wednesday vs. the Utah Pride in the Spectrum.
Tip off is 5 p.m., and the game will be followed by the men’s game at 7 p.m.
The Aggies won last year’s game vs. the Pride in a 78-66 win. In its third year of Western Athletic Conference competition, the team, Aggie Head Coach Reagan Pebley said, is eager to see who will step up in Wednesday’s game.
“I know Utah Pride is good. They’re not a team to look past, for sure,” Pebley said. “Our goal in exhibition games is, obviously, we want to win every time we go out there, but it’s to give people experience.”
Pebley welcomes eight new players from all over the world. Five freshman, two juniors and a junior transfer round out the list. Senior point guard Taylor Richards leads the nine returning letter winners back to the court.
Richards brings with her a USU career assists record of 296. Even though she’s excited to continue into the season, Richards said she knows how quick the first game will arrive.
“We don’t have a lot of prep time,” Richards said. “But that’s always nice because you get rewarded for having two weeks of practice.”
The program is entering its fifth year after being reinstated for the 2003-2004 season. Due to low funding, the university discontinued the program in 1987.
The team finished sixth in the WAC last season after being chosen to conclude in ninth place. This year, the preseason media and coaches polls placed USU in the seventh position.
The season opener against the Utah Pride will give the Aggies a chance to show off their skills against experienced basketball players. Utah Pride is made up of former college players from schools all over the state.
“Utah Pride is a bunch of players that have gone to the Sweet 16, as well as players that have gone to the NCAA tournaments,” Pebley said. “There are kids on that team that have done what we’re trying to do, and they’re talented. We’ve got to prepare.”
Following the season opener, the Aggies will be facing the College of Idaho for the Aggies’ second and final exhibition game on Nov. 3. Regular season play begins Nov. 9 when the University of Pacific visits Logan.
-erin.wadsworth@aggiemail.usu.edu