Utah State women’s basketball to take on Wolf Pack
The Utah State women’s basketball team heads to Reno, Nev., to take on the Wolf Pack on Thursday. The Aggies hold a 16-7 overall record and are 7-2 in Western Athletic Conference play.
Junior guard Devyn Christensen leads four Aggie players in double figures in scoring, at 19.1 points per game, in front of senior Ashlee Brown, who averages 13.6.
“We’ve been taking care of the ball really well,” head coach Raegan Pebley said. “We need a better defensive effort. We’ll put more focus on defense and getting the stops.”
Christensen leads the WAC in free throw percentage at 89.7 percent. She is also ranked No. 2 in the WAC in scoring. Brown and seniors Maddy Plunkett and Brooke Jackson are all in the top 15. In two games last week, Christensen averaged 16 points and 4.5 assists in a loss to Louisiana Tech and a win over New Mexico State.
Utah State leads the WAC in field goal percentage at 47.5 percent and 3-point field goal percentage at 41.6 percent. The Aggies are ranked No. 2 in scoring margin, free throw percentage and rebounding defense.
“Rebounding has been an issue all year,” Jackson said. “We just have to come out hungry.”
Jackson leads the WAC in field goal percentage at 58.5 percent. Christensen and Plunkett both rank in the top 10 at 53.4 and 46.6 percent.
“We’re a motivated team,” Christensen said. “All of our goals are in sight.”
Utah State is 8-4 on the road this year.
Nevada is ranked No. 4 in the WAC in scoring offense, averaging 66.8 points per game and is 1-7 record in the conference. The Wolf Pack is ranked last in scoring defense, giving up 79.5 points per game.
Senior guard Kate Kevorken leads Nevada with an average of 14.0 points per game. Junior guard Chanelle Brennan averages 13.9 points and senior forward Kayla Williams adds 12.4 points per game for the Wolf Pack. Brennan is ranked 11th in the WAC in rebounding with 6.3 rebounds per game.
In a loss to Fresno State on Saturday, Williams scored 24 points to lead Nevada. Kevorken and Brennan combined for 16 points, and Brennan pulled down nine rebounds in the loss.
The Wolf Pack is second in the conference with an average of 4.1 blocks per game. Nevada is ranked No. 3 in defensive rebounds, with 37.1 per game, and is 4-8 at home this season.
Tipoff is at 8 p.m. on Feb. 16 in Reno.
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu