Aggies cruise past Nevada in final home game
During the crucial stretch of the season when champions are made, the USU Women’s Basketball team is rewriting the script.
Their dominant 93-75 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack stands as their most decisive win of the season, backed by strong performances across multiple statistical categories.
The team’s 93 points are the most they have scored since 2022. Their 13 made three-pointers and 48% shooting from behind the arc are both season highs.
Defensively, they forced 27 Nevada turnovers, matching their season high. They also held the Wolf Pack to just three made three-pointers, the fewest by any of their opponents this season.
“We’re in a good spot,” said head coach Wesley Brooks following the win. “We’re very, very excited moving forward. We’re just thankful for the win — thankful for the resiliency of our girls.”
The Aggies are celebrating their first two-game win streak since November 2023, showcasing the resilience Brooks often emphasizes.
Mirroring their previous victory against San Jose State, Utah State overcame a first-half deficit to secure the win. Nevada held the lead 42-34 at the break, but Brooks and his team remained undeterred by their sluggish start.
“I think the game was going how we wanted,” Brooks said. “I told them, ‘Okay, let’s respond to their physicality. We’re right where we need to be.’”
Brooks was confident in his team heading into the third quarter, but he could never have imagined how well things would go.
The Aggies exploded for 37 points in the third quarter, by far their highest-scoring quarter of the year, shooting 71% from the field and hitting seven of their nine threes.
Utah State kept the momentum going in the fourth quarter, outsourcing Nevada 22-13. They now have a 3-14 record in the Mountain West, tying them with San Jose State for the 10-seed.
The Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship will begin Sunday, March 9, and based on Utah State’s last five games, they appear ready to compete at the highest level.
Here are some reasons why the Aggies could potentially upset their first-round opponent in the tournament:
SURGING OFFENSE
Utah State is averaging 76 points per game over their last five games, making them the highest-scoring offense in the conference during that stretch. Their inside-out approach has been working wonders for their offense, leading to an increase in both their assist numbers and three-point percentage.
DYNAMIC DUO
The backcourt duo of guards Cheyenne Stubbs and Carlie Latta has been one of the best tandems in the conference as of late. Take a look at their numbers in the last five games:
Stubbs: 24 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, 48% FG, 41% 3PT, 75% FT
Latta: 14.8 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, 53% FG, 47% 3PT, 91% FT
Those two combined for 50 points against San Jose State and another 48 points against Nevada.
Their chemistry has blossomed significantly in recent weeks, as evidenced by some of their quotes:
Brooks: “[Stubbs] is a great person, great baller, great student. Pointing out teammates, helping teammates, talking to teammates, taking [Latta] under her wing and leading her up. That’s high character, and it’s a testament to her.”
Stubbs: “I look at [Latta] as like the little-big sister I’ve never had. We see a lot of the same things. We work off each other. It’s great just being able to have somebody like that in the backcourt with me.”
Latta: “[Stubbs] has given me a lot. Having that senior have that confidence in me is really nice. She likes to bully me like an older sister. I give it to her back. Just having that more playful and not-so-serious relationship has really helped us.”
STRONG SUPPORTING CAST
Not only have Stubbs and Latta grown offensively, but other supporting players have also made significant strides.
Guard Mia Tarver has contributed 10.4 points per game in her last five appearances, including two games with 18 points each. Tarver injured her ankle in the game against Nevada but is expected to return by the Mountain West tournament.
Forward Jamisyn Heaton, who has averaged 10.2 points per game in her last five games, has been the Aggies’ most reliable scorer in the low post.
Forward Taliyah Logwood has had standout moments since returning from her leg injury in late January, scoring in double figures in six of the 10 games.
“That’s what it takes,” Brooks said. “It takes a team, and we want balanced scoring. The more balanced teams are, the harder the teams are to play against.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Utah State has just one game left in the regular season. They’ll be heading to Boise State to face the Broncos, a team they lost to 82-77 earlier this season.
This game could be particularly important due to the two teams’ positions in the standings. There is a scenario where the Broncos and Aggies could face off in the first round of the tournament.
“We probably could play them twice,” Brooks said. “This could become a two-game series, so we’re going to play it like an NBA series. So, we’re going to game plan a certain way.”