USU women basketball on road in Oregon
Aggie women’s basketball travels north to Portland, Ore., for its first road trip this weekend.
Head coach Raegan Pebley remains confident as the team sets off on its two-game journey. Last year the team played well on the road, especially going into Western Athletic Conference play, but they now look to advance to the next level, Pebley said.
“It’s definitely a goal of our team to do better on the road than we have in the past,” Pebley said. “When you play on the road, you’ve got to play really good, solid defense, and you’ve got to find a way to hit your shots, ’cause you’re not going to get calls like you do at home.”
USU goes into its second game with a 0-1 record, having lost to the University of the Pacific, 67-66, Nov. 9. Senior guard Taylor Richards topped the Aggies’ scoring with 18 points. But it was not enough to topple the Tigers.
Even though losing their opening game to the Pacific was difficult, many good decisions and strategies were executed, Pebley said. Working hard to end scoring dry spells and staying in the game, along with rebounding, kept the Aggies close to Pacific, she said. Yet, there are still aspects of the game to be tweaked.
“We’ve just got to become smarter,” Pebley said. “We’ve got to keep working on different, special situations. It’s early in the season and we’re going to get there, so I’m still very confident in our team.”
First up for the Aggies this weekend are the 1-0 Portland State University Vikings. Friday’s game will put USU toe to toe with last year’s Big Sky Conference first-team junior forward Kelsey Kahle. Averaging 18.5 points a game makes her the Viking’s principle returning offensive player.
Along with first-year head coach Sherri Murrell, the Vikings have been chosen to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference in the preseason coach’s poll. This game is the first between these teams.
Sunday’s game brings USU to the University of Portland, where the lady Pilots make their home. Victorious over Washington State University by 30 points in their season opener, the Pilots boast senior center Rachel Warren, who banked 11 in the game.
Sophomore guard Laiken Dollente, who averaged 15.2 points last season, will be aiding Warren in their pursuit. Under head coach Jim Sollars, the Pilots have made it to the NCAA Tournament four times in his 22 years. USU defeated the Pilots last season, 68-58.
Pebley said she isn’t worried about the short time the team has to prepare between games.
“It’s not an issue,” Pebley said. “You just find a way to adapt and be successful.”
Traveling for the Aggies is just as structured as the time spent on the USU campus, Pebley said. The team leaves as late as possible in order to get players to their classes. Returning quickly is also important for the same reason, she said.
“You just try and make it as smooth as possible,” Pebley said. “You rely on the returners to kind of help the kids along and tell them what to expect. We treat it like a business trip. There will be some down time, but not a lot.”
-erin.wadsworth@aggiemail.usu.edu