USU Women’s Basketball falls to New Mexico at home
Utah State University Women’s Basketball fell short on Feb. 25 against the University of New Mexico, 69 to 54. With the loss, the Aggies’ losing streak has been extended to 15 games. Utah State has struggled with injuries all season, and tonight’s game was no exception.
The Aggies were able to keep the game close through the first quarter, tied at 10-10 as the quarter closed. Sophomore guard Elise Livingston scored six of the Aggies’ ten points, going two for three from the 3-point line.
The Lobos pulled away in the second quarter, going on an 8-0 run midway through the quarter. The Lobos made 60% of the 3-point attempts in the quarter, helping the Lobos pull out to a nine-point lead at half.
The second half was dominated by the Lobos, who made eight of 14 3-point attempts, outscoring the Aggies 37-31 in the second half to secure the win.
Despite the loss, head coach Wesley Brooks was proud of the team’s effort, citing the loss mostly due to the team’s attrition.
“I thought we battled and we fought hard. We knew coming in that the athleticism and rebounding were going to be a problem for us because we can’t match it. We’re down to nine players. We’ve had 17 different starting lineups, which is unheard of,” Brooks said. “You can’t get any chemistry, and you can’t really build. There are no excuses, but there are reasons why this season has turned out the way it has.”
One bright spot for the Aggies was the return of junior guard Aaliyah Gayles, who missed the last two games with a concussion. Gayles lead the team in scoring with 15 points and four rebounds.
“Coming in and out of the lineup is tough. I’m just trying to get my groove back. It’s like getting out of a slump,” Gayles said. “I just need to be able to play confidently and just remember who I am at the end of the day.”
Gayles also spoke about the rotating lineups and how it affects the team.
“Everybody needs to be ready. When your name is called or when you come into a big role, you need to be ready to play your game and adjust,” Gayles said. “It’s a challenge. It’s another way for us to step up and say, ‘What else can I do?’”
Senior guard Jamisyn Heaton had a big game for the Aggies as well, scoring effectively inside the paint throughout the night. Her 11 points were the third-highest on the team.
“We talk about Jamisyn, what she means to our program. She’s the heart and soul of it. Her will is relentless. She’s a fighter, she’s a competitor, she’s everything that we want,” Brooks said. “She’s a true-blooded Aggie. That’s what we want. I’m so proud of her, her maturity over the last two years, how she’s grown as a person, as a leader.”
The Aggies have two more games left in the regular season: Boise State on Feb. 28, followed by Nevada at home on March 3. The Aggies will then make the trip to Las Vegas for the Mountain West tournament, which will be from March 7-10.