Women’s bball squad loses at NMSU 75-71
The USU women fell to New Mexico State 71-75 in a tough loss Saturday night.
The Aggie defense held the crimson-clad Aggies without a field goal during the final four minutes of the game, but couldn’t come up with the win in a game that was tied 15 times and had 15 lead changes. USU head coach Raegan Pebley said it was a tough loss.
“Both teams competed really hard,” Pebley said. “Both teams I thought really left it all out on the floor.”
After scoring the first four points in the game, USU found their opponents roaring back and going up by 10 with a 12-0 run kick-started by a field goal from New Mexico State guard Madison Spence. NMSU led 28-18 before Utah State went on a run of their own to bring the Aggie-battle back to a close match.
Down 31-34 at halftime, USU led by as much as seven in the second half. NMSU came back with an 8-0 run with seven minutes remaining to go up by one, 58-59.
Seven made foul shots by New Mexico State put USU down six, and the last field goal from a blue-clad Aggie came with just 24 seconds left.
In the end, Pebley said her girls didn’t have enough time to catch up.
“New Mexico State is a team that finished the game on a run and we didn’t answer,” Pebley said. “Couldn’t stop that run, not enough time.”
USU had three players in double figures, led by forward Ashlee Brown who had three blocks to go along with her 19 points. She also made the final two foul shots in the contest.
“(Brown) played very, very strong,” Pebley said. “She is continuing to produce with a lot of physical contact, getting sometimes even double-teamed. She’s playing aggressive and we want to see her continue that.”
Devyn Christensen had two 3-pointers in the game, including an assist from Brown to put the Aggies from Logan on top with just over three minutes remaining, 67-66. The 5-foot-6 sophomore from Caldwell, Idaho had 13 points before fouling out with two minutes left in the game.
“Devyn is a great offensive spark for us coming off the bench,” Pebley said. “She’s a confident player that stretches the defense out.”
Senior USU guard Alice Coddington went 4-8 from the field with 11 points and five rebounds.
New Mexico State’s Spence and Danisha Corbett combined for 44 points. Forward Tabytha Wampler added another 13 points and six rebounds.
The loss drops Utah State to 8-10 overall and 2-3 in the Western Athletic Conference. New Mexico State improves to 9-10 and 3-2.
The Aggie women will return to Logan next week to face Hawaii on Jan. 27 and San Jose State on Jan. 29, both games at 7 p.m.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu