Long Beach too much for women Aggies
The Utah State women’s basketball team knew they probably should win their last three games to spend Spring Break in Anaheim, but with their loss to Long Beach State, 64-57, they now have two must-win games left to play this season.
“We’re almost to the [Big West] tournament,” said USU freshman Terrin Johnston, “but almost isn’t good enough. We’ve gotta win.”
The Aggies played a tough game and came just a few points short of their fifth win. They had a hard time finding someone to step up in place of injured sophomore Jessica Freeman, who broke her thumb earlier this week at practice.
“We love Jess [Freeman],” said freshman Aggie Christina Zdenek. “She brings so much to our team. She is one of our best defenders, if not the best, and without her it absolutely hurt us.”
Zdenek and Ali Aird were on fire, with both in double figures, but it wasn’t enough for the Aggies.
“Christina played much better today than she has for the last three games,” said Utah State Head Coach Raegan Pebley.
Zdenek had an aggressive first half, putting 12 points up for the Aggies in her 19 minutes, but she had trouble finding open shots in the second half and only had four points for a total of 16 points to lead the floor in scoring.
Aird was not far behind with 15 points. She had eight points from the floor and went 7-of-8 from the line. Aird also pulled down 10 boards for a double-double in her 31 minutes.
“If a couple of shots had gone a different way on both ends of the court, the game would have gone a different way,” Pebley said.
Anne-Marie Torp had trouble finding the basket during the game, shooting only 2-for-12 for the game. Brittany Tressler was 0-for-4 in the game, but added four points from the line.
Johnston had a good game with three back-door baskets for a total of six points.
The Aggies came out and controlled most of the first half. In the last eight minutes of the half the Aggies outscored Long Beach 10-2 to take a 28-25 lead into the locker room.
USU managed to contain the 49ers’ leading scorer, 6-foot-6 junior Petra Glaeser, holding her to only two points and two rebounds in the first half of play. She finished the game with eight points.
Jayme Connors and Candice Wilson led Long Beach in scoring with 13 points each.
The Ags couldn’t handle the prosperity and allowed the Niners to take over the lead a little over two minutes into the second half and allowed them to build a fairly solid lead in the final minutes of the game.
USU plays Irvine Saturday at home. The game will tip-off at 1 p.m.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu