Lady Ags drop second game to Rainbow Wahine
Women’s basketball went all even with their 6-6 standing in the Western Athletic Conference after a loss to the Rainbow Wahine of the University of Hawaii 79-63 on Saturday.
Once again, the Aggies lacked Head Coach Raegan Pebley, who stayed in Logan due to the birth of her baby on Jan. 30. Assistant Coach George Brosky took over as he did during their three-game away schedule, which began Feb. 3.
Junior guard Taylor Richards produced 19 points for the Aggies, aiding in their 41.7 field goal percentage which just fell short of Hawaii’s 45.8 percent on the court. Once again contributing largely to her team, senior forward Brittany Phillips scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers – 17 of those points in the first half alone.
“Those are two players that just continue to be consistent for us,” Pebley said. “We need to always find ways to get the ball in their hands.”
First-half play gave the Aggies a chance to step up and take charge, but it was the Rainbow Wahine that found their way to the front with a score of 35-32 to take both teams into the locker room.
Four of Hawaii’s starters put up double figures, led by senior guard Pam Tambini with 20 points. But it was junior forward Tanya Smith that brought the double-double with her 14 points and a huge 13 rebounds against the Aggies.
Hawaii’s rebounding overtook the Aggies 42-26. Grabbing boards was not a strong point for USU, which allowed Hawaii to snatch the ball and run too often.
“We just didn’t do a very good job rebounding,” Pebley said. “That gave them too many shot attempts, and it put the ball in to their post players’ hands, which are difficult enough match-ups. So rebounding was a problem for us in the game.”
The team had some difficulty getting to Honolulu by way of a foggy San Francisco. The team left Salt Lake City, but their flight was temporarily postponed for just enough time that once they arrived in San Francisco, they had missed their connecting flight to Hawaii.
While the lady Aggies sat in the airport for much of their trip, their lack of opportunity to practice was not a factor in their loss to Hawaii, Pebley said. The actual fatigue of the travel time took a bit of a toll on the ladies; they remained in the airport for 10 hours for two days straight, she said.
“All things considered, we could have gone out and just completely tanked the game from the beginning,” Pebley said. “We played a very good first half and good portions of the second half, but rebounding just continued to be our Achilles’ heel.”
Second-half play started off with Hawaii dominating from the start. Team focus was lacking and execution could have been better for the Aggies throughout the game, senior guard Camille Brox said. USU was unable to keep up with the Rainbow Wahine in the concluding half and ended up pulling in a loss that ended a three-game winning streak.
Next up for the lady Aggies is a home game where they will face New Mexico State University. In their last meeting, USU came out on top with a final score of 68-51 in Las Cruces, N.M.
Of the match-up, Pebley said, “There’s a huge battle for the third through seventh place, and every game is really important. So I know New Mexico State is going to be coming in here trying to beat us just like we’re going to be trying to beat them.”
During the last meeting between the Aggies from the South and USU, Phillips totaled 25 points and 12 rebounds, a double-double for the veteran. Junior forward Jamelah Brown scored 13 for the team along with Richards’ 12 points to add to the win.
“We look at ways that we can adjust and things that we continue to want to do the same,” Pebley said. “I just think our kids played really well in that game, and New Mexico State, I’m sure, is going to be ready to come out and try and just play well.”
This game marks the beginning of the end for three senior Aggies. Phillips, Brox and forward Brittany Hagen have battled alongside Pebley since the program was reinstated for the 2003-2004 season.
“I’m happy for them,” Pebley said. “I think seniors get to that point where it’s bittersweet, where they’ve been looking forward to this day and then all of a sudden it’s here and it’s come faster than they realized. It’s a great achievement for these three seniors, and I’m really proud of them.”
Following their face-off with New Mexico State, USU will remain at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to host Louisiana Tech University on Feb. 24. They will then complete their game schedule by traveling to Reno, Nev., to battle with the University of Nevada on March 1 and Fresno, Calif., on March 3 to visit Fresno State University.
“We have to take it game by game because everyone we’re playing is tough,” Pebley said. “There’s no one that is a for sure win, and I don’t think anyone can look at us that way either.”
-eawads@cc.usu.edu