Pacific Tigers clawed by Utah State Aggies

Funda Nakkasoglu scored a career-high 37 points and the Utah State women’s basketball team got its first win against a Div. I opponent on Saturday.

The Aggies downed the Pacific Tigers 78-70 at home in the Spectrum.

“This game will go a long way. We started four freshman and a sophomore,” said USU head coach Jerry Finkbeiner. “For the confidence and growth of a young team, this will pay dividends. Maybe not the next game out but it adds to the foundation.”

With two minutes to play, UP had a two-point lead. Then Nakkasoglu hit a pull-up 3-point shot to put USU on top 69-68. Moments later she hit two free-throws to give the Aggies a three-point lead 73-70 and Pacific didn’t score again. Utah State hit five of its final six free throws to finish out the game at 88 percent.

“I told Funda this is her team because, statistically, she’s all we have returning,” Finkbeiner said. “We had to have Funda’s 37 tonight because we beat a good team. We had to have other individual efforts to go along with it.”

Nakkasoglu’s career high wasn’t the only one for Utah State. Senior Tijana Djukic pulled down 15 boards and scored 14 points. It was her second career double-double, a new career high in rebounds and matched her career high in points.

“This whole week we emphasized rebounding,” Djukic said. “We were just listening to the coaches and doing our job … It didn’t surprise me, I was trying hard and rebounding. I think it was teamwork, not just individuals. Everyone stepped up.”

Djukic’s dominance on the glass helped USU outrebound UP 49 to 34, including 18 offensive rebounds for the Aggies compared to seven for the Tigers. Utah State’s inside presence led to 36 points in the paint and 17 second chance points.

USU trailed by two, 32-20, at the half. That’s when Nakkasoglu took over.

Despite starting just 1-6, and having 12 points at the half, Nakkasoglu stepped up in the third and fourth quarters to lead USU past the Tigers. Her 37 points are the most in a game for Utah State since Jen Schlott scored 37 during the 2013-2014 season. Nakkasoglu did her damage on 11 of 24 shooting, with two 3-point shots and hitting 13 of 14 free throws.

“We have one main play. It’s called one game,” Nakkasoglu said. “It’s where I get a screen and work off that. I think that puts me in the best position. They switch their big man onto me and I like breaking them down. I have a lot of options off that, that’s the main thing that let me get those drives.”

UP’s top scorer was Hailie Eackles, who scored 24. Eackles hit 6 of 11 from behind the 3-point arc and was 9 of 15 shooting overall. Just behind her was Eli Lopez Sangrera, who had 18 points.

Along with Nakkasoglu’s 25-point boost to the second half, the Aggies didn’t commit a second-half turnover and got to the free-throw line often extend their lead.

“That’s unbelievable in men’s or women’s basketball, to have a half that clean,” Finkbeiner said. “It directly influenced our success in winning the game … We didn’t shoot real well tonight, but the rebounds and turnovers were the difference in the game.”

Utah State next travels to Provo to take on in-state rival BYU on Tuesday.

— Kalen.s.taylor@gmail.com
Twitter: @kalen_taylor

A gallery with photos from the game can be found here: https://usustatesman.com/gallery/womens-basketball-usu-vs-pacific/