Aggies look to get offensive in rivalry game
The Utah State Women’s basketball team faces in-state rival Utah at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies go into the game with a perfect 2-0 record while the Utes are 1-1.
USU has yet to score less than 100 points in a game this season. They beat Black Hills State 103-46 in their season opener and beat Loyola Marymount by a score of 100-58.
Sophomore Mackenlee Williams leads the team with 27 points per game, followed by senior Jennifer Schlott with 20 points per game.
For the Aggies, the hot start to the season is the first time since 1979 they have scored 100 points or more in consecutive games. USU should have a challenge after winning its first two games of the season by an average of 49.5 points.
USU went down to Salt Lake to take on the Utes last season and lost 92-64.
“Utah beat us like a drum last year,” said Aggie head coach Jerry Finkbeiner. “Utah dominated us for 40 minutes.”
Utah defeated Denver in their season opener by a score of 73-56 and narrowly lost to No. 11 Nebraska 75-69 on Friday. However, Finkbeiner thinks his team can beat the Utes by improving one aspect of their game.
“We have to rebound better,” he said. “Utah will abuse us on the boards. We have to sure up the offensive boards and to clone everything else we are doing right now to give ourselves a chance.”
Utah is coming off a successful season where they finished with a 23-14 record. They went all the way to the NIT championship game but lost to Drexel University.
The Aggies aren’t scared of the Utes despite last season’s beating; in fact, they are excited to play the Utes.
“We’re really excited,” said junior guard Elise Nelson. “We’re up for a challenge, and I think it’s going to be a really good game.”
USU has already defeated a team they lost to last year. Loyola Marymount beat the Aggies 98-81 last season. Not only did the Aggies take get revenge on the Lions last week, but they held their scoring total 40 points lower than last season.
The Aggies hope to take revenge from another loss from last season Tuesday.
Finkbeiner emphasized how much beating the Utes would mean for the team and how important it would be for fans to be at the game in full force.
“We need a good home-court advantage,” he said. “Utah is a Pac-12 team, and it would be great for our program to get them. I just want to encourage all of our fans and student body to get out here for that game.”
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