Women’s basketball rolls
Aggie freshman guard Franny Vaaulu notched 10 points in the 89-44 win over Western New Mexico State University on Saturday. The Aggies 45-point victory in their only exhibition game of the season was helped along by a deep Utah State bench at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Vaaulu also had four blocks in her first action as an Aggie. Sophomore Devyn Christenson racked up 10 points, despite leaving in the first with an ankle sprain.
“There were a lot of stats, which is what you like to see in a game like this,” USU head coach Raegan Pebley said.
Western New Mexico pressed USU, something the Aggies have struggled with in the past.
Senior forward Ashlee Brown said the opportunity to employ new press breaks was promising.
“It was good to go against it,” Brown said. “Especially in an exhibition, it’s great to get that experience for the journey we have ahead.”
Late last season, the Aggies struggled in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament against the presses of Brigham Young University and the University of Arizona. Utah State guard Jennifer Schlott said the early opportunity in practice was welcomed.
“It helped us a lot to get ready for it,” Schlott said. “Last year, we weren’t expecting it until the end, so it’s good to get started with earlier in the year.”
Schlott had six points and three assists.
The Aggies got off to an early 17-2 lead. The Mustangs cut the lead to single digits at 19-10, with 12 minutes left, but their talent was no match for USU. The Aggies forced 18 Mustang turnovers in the first 20 minutes alone, and Schlott picked up three steals in the first half.
Utah State maintained a 10-point lead until it jumped ahead, just before halftime. Brown led the Aggies with 10 points in the first, and she finished the game with 15.
The Aggies headed into halftime with a 20-point lead that only increased as the game went on.
The Utah State bench scored 30 points in the second half, including Christensen’s eight-straight points. The junior left the game in the first half with an ankle sprain but returned for a strong showing in the second half.
“The entire bench contributed,” Brown said. “Everyone tried to work and better themselves.”
Christensen hit two 3-pointers in a row and completed the run with a layup,to put the Aggies up 67-33.
Vaaulu scored six of her 10 points in the second half, going 5 for 9 shooting, and notched two of her four blocks on the night. The Aggies got their biggest lead of the night off of a layup from senior forward Reyneisha Mays, who had six points in the game.
The Aggies open up the regular season with a matchup against the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., on Nov. 11.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu