UTAH STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS FIRST TWO PLAYERS IN 16 YEARS

Utah State has received national letters of intent from its first two women’s basketball players in nearly 16 years, head coach Raegan Scott-Pebley announced Wednesday. The team, which last played in 1987, is scheduled to begin playing in the 2003-04 season. Both players will redshirt in the 2002-03 season.

“This is very special for me and for Utah State,” Scott-Pebley said. “The enthusiasm these two girls bring to the program and to the school matches my own. They’re excited to be part of a new experience and I’m pleased that they are our first signees.”

Brittany Tressler, a prep standout at Mountain View High School in Orem, was the team’s first signee. She led Mountain View to a 23-2 record in 2002, back-to-back state titles in 2001 and 2002, and a USA Today 2002 final ranking of No. 6 in the nation. Tressler averaged almost 14 points and eight rebounds in the 2002 state tournament and was named to the 4A all-state first team. She also played on the 2001 ESPN National Championship women’s basketball team.

“Brittany is a special player and not just because she’s the first young woman to commit to play basketball to Utah State in more than a decade,” Scott-Pebley said. “She’s very versatile and can play inside as well as outside. She carries an intelligence on the floor that translates to the classroom and she is exactly the kind of student-athlete I want to have in this program. She’s not used to losing. That will mean good things for us.”

“I chose Utah State because of the campus atmosphere and I know that Coach Pebley is someone I really want to play for,” Tressler said.

Tressler also won a doubles state championship in tennis and finished second at state in singles. She was named academic all-state in both tennis and basketball. The daughter of Ron and Kristie Tressler of Orem, Utah, she plans to pursue sports medicine.

Stephanie Peterson, a 2000 graduate of Orem High, and a 2002 graduate of Dixie State College also committed to play for the Aggies. Peterson earned All-America recognition this year, as she led Dixie State to a 27-6 record and the conference championship and averaged 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. As a freshman she averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds as Dixie State finished 19-12.

“Stephanie is a player who can come in and make a major impact for us,” Scott-Pebley said. “She has won at every level she’s played at. She does everything on the floor she can to make a difference in a game – both the things that show up in the stats and the things that don’t.”

“I watched Coach Scott-Pebley play when I was younger and I’ve always liked her,” Peterson said. “I was excited when I heard Utah State was going to restart the program, because I’ve wanted to go there. Sitting out next year will be o.k. because I’m getting married soon and I’d like to adjust to USU and my marriage and it gives me the chance to get stronger. I’m also excited to play for Coach; I think she’s going to be really good.”

Peterson, the daughter of Terry and Sherry Peterson of Orem, is an art and education double major. She is engaged to Dave Grant, Dixie State’s 2001 quarterback.

“This is just what we expected from Raegan,” Athletics Director Rance Pugmire said. “We knew she would hit the ground running and her regional ties would be a big plus for us. This is just the start of a promising career for her.” —