Pebley returns in time to play Nevada
The Aggie women’s basketball team returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Thursday to host Nevada for the first time this season in Western Athletic Conference play.
Recently concluding a loss to California State University Fresno 86-81 in Reno, Nev., the Wolf Pack is 12-11 in overall season play and 6-4 in the WAC. This loss to Fresno State marked their third consecutive loss since falling to Louisiana Tech University 73-62.
Four of the Wolf Pack players posted double digits in their game against Fresno State. Leading the way was senior guard Traci Graham who posted a game-high 23 points for her team. Freshman forward Marissa Hammond also pitched in with a career high of 16 points for the game.
“Nevada is a very physical team,” Head Coach Raegan Pebley said. “We just have to be ready to handle that.”
When it comes to change-ups in the team’s defensive and offensive outlook as the Aggies look to face a new team, not much will alter. At this point in the season, these kinds of changes should not be made, Pebley said. Each team is facing each other for the first time, so Nevada will be just as fresh as USU when it comes to game time, she said.
Dominating the University of Idaho last Saturday in Moscow, Idaho, 57-53 has given the lady Aggies back-to-back wins on the road for the first time since the 2004-2005 season. Stepping in for Pebley was Assistant Coach George Brosky who led USU during its three-game schedule on the road, a journey that included a start-off loss to San Jose State University 65-57 and a 68-51 New Mexico State University defeat.
It was junior forward Jamelah Brown who brought the heat against Idaho on Saturday, scoring 11 points and gaining a personal goal and career high of seven rebounds. The team now stands at 9-13 overall and 5-5 in the WAC.
Pebley will be returning to her position to coach the ladies against Nevada after her three-game absence. Pebley remained in Logan after giving birth to her daughter.
“She’ll be back in practice,” Brosky said in a post-game radio interview following the Aggie win over Idaho. “We just can’t wait to have her back on the bench.”
Aggie forward Brittany Phillips has been named the WAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. This is an honor that is well deserved by someone who doesn’t go looking for recognition in her playing, Pebley said.
USU’s travel to New Mexico gave Phillips 25 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs and the makings of a double-double. Phillips maintains an 81.8 percent free throw percentage, making her second in the WAC for her time at the line.
Phillips is the second member of the team to receive the award as junior guard Taylor Richards held the title for the week of Jan. 8. Richards totaled seven points against the lady Vandals of Idaho, hitting three out of four attempted 3-pointers in her 27 minutes of play. Finding her groove early on in the season, Richards shined as she hit a career-high 28 points and led her fellow Aggies to a victory against Fresno State on Jan. 6.
Following the head-on competition with Nevada, USU will be heading to Hawaii to visit the Rainbow Wahine of the University of Hawaii for the second time on Feb. 17. Then come two home games against New Mexico and Louisiana Tech.
-eawads@cc.usu.edu