Jan. 31, 2008

LOGAN, Utah -

Complete Release in PDF Format

GAME #20 - Utah State (6-13, 2-5 WAC) at Nevada (14-5, 5-1 WAC)
Sat., Feb. 2, 8 p.m. (MT) • Reno, Nev • Lawlor Events Center (11,536)
Broadcast: 1390 AM • www.UtahStateAggies.com

QUICKLY - Utah State (6-13, 2-5 WAC) begins a four-game road stretch, starting at Reno, Nev. against Nevada (14-5, 5-1 WAC) on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. (MT) in UNR's Lawlor Events Center (11,536).

USU senior guard Taylor Richards scored her 1,000th career point on Jan. 12 at New Mexico State and became the fifth player in USU history to reach the 1,000 point milestone. She currently holds the No. 4 spot on USU's Career Points list with 1,046 points. She needs 35 points to tie Magaret Johns (1980-83, 1,081 points) at No. 3.

Richards also set a new USU career three-pointers record Saturday night, surpassing the previous record of 83 held by former teammate Brittany Hagen (2003-07). Richards has now made 85 career three-pointers and now holds two records for USU, including the career assists record with 347 helpers.

Aggie junior guard Danyelle Snelgro surpassed 100 career steals on Jan. 5 against San Jose State. She is now tied for No. 6 on USU's career steals list with Sharon Epps (1982-83, 121 steals) and needs 24 steals to crack into the top three.

THINK PINK NIGHT - Utah State women's basketball team will host Nevada on Thursday, Feb. 21 on "Think Pink Night," part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association "Cancer Awareness Weekend." All fans attending the game are encouraged to wear pink as a show of support for the brave individuals battling cancer. The $5 for admission charge for adult, $1 for children will be waived for anyone wearing pink to the game. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

In addition to "Think Pink Night" fans are encouraged to participate in "Quilts For The Cure." Fans are encouraged to make and bring quilts to donate. The donated quilts will be given away to those affected by breast cancer. The recipients of the quilts will be announced in the second half.

Fans attending USU women's basketball home games prior to February 21 can drop off the names of those affected by breast cancer at the promotions table located inside the main entrance to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

SEASON 20 - The 2007-08 season marks the 20th year of women's basketball at USU, and just the fifth since the program was restarted prior to the 2003-04 season. The women's hoops program at USU had been disbanded following the 1987 season due to budget cuts. USU is playing in its third season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after playing its first two seasons in the Big West Conference.

ADMISSION - Admission to all home Utah State's women's basketball games is $5 for adults, $1 for youth. Contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435)797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for more information or visit the Utah State athletic web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com and click on Tickets in the left hand column.

AGGIES ON THE RADIO/WEB - All Utah State women's basketball games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Evan Nyman calling the play-by-play and former USU women's basketball player Ashley Rutledge will be providing color commentary for home games. They can also be heard on the web through Yahoo! Sports, by going to the Utah State Athletics home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the Yahoo! Sports link in the right hand column.

LIVESTATS - Fans can follow the Utah State - Nevada game women's basketball game live by visiting the Utah State women's basketball schedule page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the livestats link in the box on the right hand side.

ON THE INTERNET - All Utah State's home games are available to watch live through UtahState.tv via the internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU fans can also listen to every game both home and away, via USU's web site.

RETURNING - Head coach Raegan Pebley and the Aggies have three starters among nine letterwinners returning from last season's squad that posted an 11-18 overall record and 7-9 in the WAC... Senior forward Jenny Gross, senior guard Taylor Richards and junior guard Danyelle Snelgro return, as well as senior forward Jamelah Brown.

ABOUT UTAH STATE - The Aggies started off the month of January going 3-0 before falling in their last five and are now 6-13 overall and 2-5 in WAC action after losing to New Mexico State, 71-58, on Jan. 24 and dropping a 71-56 contest to Louisiana Tech at home on Saturday night.

In the WAC statistics, Utah State leads the conference in free throw percentage (.734), and is third in three-point field goal pct. (.334), as well as ranking seventh in scoring offense (61.9 ppg) and third in scoring defense (65.2 ppg), to rank seventh in scoring margin (-3.3). Utah State is also second in steals (9.58 spg), sixth in assists (11.68 apg) and eighth in rebounding margin (-6.5).

Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro (5-5, Altadena, Calif.) leads Utah State with 10.4 ppg, dishing out 2.95 apg and swiping 2.53 spg. Snelgro is shooting 78.8 percent from the free throw line (41-of-52). In the league stats, Snelgro ranks second in steals, fourth in free throw percentage, fifth in three-point field goal pct. (.392), seventh in assists and 15th in scoring. She tallied seven points and six assists against New Mexico State on Jan. 24 and scored 11 points on Saturday against Louisiana Tech.

Preseason all-WAC second-team selection Taylor Richards (SR, G, 5-4, West Valley City, Utah) averages 10.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg, to go along with 2.68 apg and 2.11 spg. Richards scored 18 points and pulled down six rebounds on Jan. 26 versus Louisiana Tech, as well as dishing out five assists. In the WAC stats, Richards is tied for fifth in steals, seventh in free throw percentage (.760), ninth in assists and 16th in scoring.

Senior guard Jamelah Brown (5-10, Phoenix Ariz.) posts 9.1 ppg and is second on the team with 4.9 rpg. Brown scored a season-high 24 points at Boise State on Jan. 17, while she tallied 11 points and seven rebounds against Idaho. Brown is third in the league stats in three-point FG pct. (.423), 19th in rebounding and 20th in scoring.

Lindsey Shipley (JR, F, 6-0, Provo, Utah) nets 6.7 ppg and grabs 2.9 rpg. Shipley scored seven points and snared six rebounds at Boise State on Jan. 17. She tallied a career-high 20 points against San Jose State on Jan. 5, topping her previous career-high of 19 set just three games prior against Saint Mary's on Dec. 22. She is shooting 38.8 percent from field goal range (45-of-116) and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe (25-of-30).

Senior center Jenny Gross (6-2, Caldwell, Idaho) averages 7.6 ppg and leads the team with 5.1 rpg. Gross recorded her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds at Boise State on Jan. 17. She tallied a career-high 19 points against New Mexico State on Jan. 24. Gross also scored eight points on Saturday versus Louisiana Tech.

LAST TIME OUT - LOGAN, Utah - Senior guard Taylor Richards set a new USU career three-pointers record Saturday night but Utah State was topped by Louisiana Tech, 71-56, in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball action at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

With her first three of the night which was USU's first points of the game, Richards broke the previous record of 83 held by former teammate Brittany Hagen (2003-07) when she drained a trey from the left wing just 2:31 into Saturday's contest. The senior guard ended the night with two three-pointers, upping her career total to 84.

Richards now has two USU career records as she is the Aggies' career assists leader, adding to her total with a game-high tying five helpers Saturday to give her 347 and counting for her career.

The loss was USU's fifth in a row as the Aggies drop to 6-13 overall and 2-5 in WAC action. The Lady Techsters continued their seven-game won-loss pattern, as La Tech now has a 9-10 overall and 3-3 WAC ledger.

The Lady Techsters remain unbeaten against Utah State, winning all five meetings.

Richards netted a game-high 18 points to go with her game-high five assists, while fellow backcourt mate junior Danyelle Snelgro added 11 points.

La Tech was led by JoKeirra Sneed and Shanavia Dowdell with 17 points apiece while Tarkeisha Wysinger logged a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, leading La Tech to a 40-35 rebounding advantage.

USU shot 17-of-60 (28.3 percent) from the field, but shot a better percentage from three-point range at 38.5 percent (5-of-13). The Aggies were also 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) at the free throw line.

LTU was 23-of-52 (44.2 percent) field goal shooting, hitting 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) behind the three-point arc and the Lady Techsters were 20-of-21 (95.2 percent) at the free pitch stripe.

La Tech led from start to finish, jumping out to a 16-5 lead at 14:22 before taking a 37-27 halftime advantage. The Lady Techsters improved to 8-0 when leading at the half while the Aggies are now 0-12 when trailing at intermission.

Utah State trailed by double-digits for the majority of the second half as La Tech opened the stanze with a 15-7 spurt to take a 52-34 lead at 13:21 after a pair of Wysinger free throws and the Lady Techsters cruised to the win.

SCOUTING NEVADA - The Wolf Pack are 14-5 overall and 5-1 in WAC action after defeating Louisiana Tech, 74-70 on Jan. 24 and winning, 83-76, in overtime against New Mexico State on Saturday. Nevada hosts Fresno State on Thursday before USU comes to town.

Nevada leads the WAC in scoring margin (+7.3) and steals (13.32 spg.) The Wolf Pack are second in 3-point FG percentage with (.337), second in scoring defense with (63.5 ppg), third in FT percentage (70.9 pg) and first in turnover margin (+6.95).

Dellena Criner, a 5-7 junior point guard, leads Nevada with 17.8 ppg and 3.6 rpg while dishing out 3.0 apg and 2.1 spg. She is also hitting 43.7 percent from field goal range (93-of-213) and is shooting 42.5 percent from behind the three-point arc (31-of-73). Criner leads the WAC in scoring and is second in three-point field goal percentage, fifth in assists and fifth in free throw percentage (.782). She tallied 17 points and five assists against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 24, while scoring 14 points against New Mexico State on Saturday.

Mikail Price, a 5-7 senior guard, posts 10.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, and is shooting 35.3 percent from field goal range (61-of-168). In the league stats, Price is third in steals (2.37 spg), 10th in free throw shooting (.739) and 12th in scoring. She scored 12 points against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 24 and tallied 20 points, three assists and three steals on Saturday against New Mexico State.

Brandi Fitzgerald, a 5-10 junior guard, nets 8.0 ppg and is second on the team with 4.2 rpg. She is shooting 41.4 percent from field goal range (60-of-145). Fitzgerald is 15th in the league stats in blocked shots (0.68 bg), 15th in field goal percentage and 27th in scoring. She scored 12 points and pulled down four rebounds against La Tech on Jan. 24 and tallied two points and four rebounds against NMSU on Saturday.

Nevada head coach Kim Gervasoni (Fresno State, 1989) has a 55-85 record at Nevada in her fifth season at the leash of the Wolf Pack.

THE SERIES VS. NEVADA - Saturday is the seventh meeting between the Aggies and the Wolf Pack, with the series tied at 3-3. USU won the first meeting last season, 59-44, Feb. 15, 2007 and then fell at Nevada, 61-49, on March 1, 2007. USU won the first two meetings, on Jan. 8, 1980 and Nov. 30, 1984, before Nevada won both meetings during the 2005-06 season.

LAST MEETING VS. NEVADA - Taylor Richards and Brittany Phillips continued their scoring streaks, but Utah State fell to Nevada, 61-49, on March 1, 2007 in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball action at Lawlor Events Center. Richards netted a game-high 15 points, while Phillips moved to No. 8 on the USU career scoring list as she posted 10 points to give her 870 career points, passing Mary Danielson (1981-82).

Jenny Gross and Lindsey Shipley shared team-high honors with seven rebounds apiece, as USU was out-rebounded, 41-37.

Nevada had three players in double-figures, led by Jessica Pressler's double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Traci Graham, the reigning WAC Player of the Week, and Dellena Criner netted 11 points apiece.

RICHARDS IS USU CAREER ASSISTS RECORD HOLDER/TOP 10 STEALS AND POINTS LIST - Senior guard Taylor Richards now has 347 assists for her career as she holds the No. 1 spot on USU's Career Assists list.

Richards also has 153 career steals to hold sole possession at No. 2 on the USU Career Steals list. She needs 22 steals to tie for first with Margaret Johns (1980-83, 175).

The senior guard is also No. 4 on the USU Career Points list with 1,046 points, surpassing Pam Shirley at No. 5 (1977-79, 1,021) after she posted 18 points against Louisiana Tech on Saturday. She needs 35 more to tie Margaret Johns (1980-83, 1,081) who holds the No. 3 spot.

SNELGRO MOVING UP CAREER ASSISTS LIST/CAREER STEALS LIST - Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro entered the career assists list on Nov. 28 and currently holds the No. 7 spot with 182 helpers. She needs 9 nine assists to become tied for sixth with Dorinda Carey (191 assists, 1978-81).

Snelgro also has 121 career steals and is tied for the No. 6 spot on the Career Steals list with Sharon Epps (1982-83, 121 steals) and needs 24 steals to crack into the top three.

THREE-POINTERS MADE LIST - Five players hold a spot on the USU Career Three-Pointers Made list. Senior guard Taylor Richards broke the career record on Saturday against Louisiana Tech with her first trey of the game surpassing former teammate Brittany Hagen (2003-07) and has currently made 85 career three-pointers. Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro is sixth with 49 and junior forward Lindsey Shipley is seventh with 36. Also on the list are senior guard Jamelah Brown and junior guard Ana Pares who are ninth and 10th with 29 and 18 three-pointers made, respectively.

CAREER FREE THROW PERCENTAGE LIST - Senior guard Taylor Richards, senior center Jenny Gross and junior guard Danyelle Snelgro are all shooting above 65.0 percent from the free throw line in their careers and hold a spot in the top 10 on the Career Free Throw percentage list. Snelgro jumped to the fifth spot (103-of-149, .691), joining the list after shooting her 100th career free throw on Jan. 24 against New Mexico State, while Richards is sixth (203-of-294, .690) and Gross is tied for eighth (134-of-201, .667) with former teammate Ali Marchant (2003-06).

GAMES PLAYED - Senior guard Taylor Richards and senior center Jenny Gross are tied for seventh and 10th in career games played, respectively. Richards has appeared in 103 career games, while Gross has played in 94 games.

TIME SHARES - Nine Aggies are averaging at least 10 minutes a game with junior guard Danyelle Snelgro leading the way at 31.4 minutes per game.

SCORING SPREAD - Six Aggies have led or shared the lead in scoring this season with senior guard Jamelah Brown and senior guard Taylor Richards paving the way, leading in six games each as Brown posted a career-high 24 points at Boise State on Jan.17, while Richards netted 18 points against Louisiana Tech on Saturday... Eight different players have led in rebounding, with senior center Jenny Gross leading the way with eight games each, as she grabbed a season-high 11 boards at Portland State on Nov. 16 and pulled down 10 rebounds at Boise State on Jan. 17 as part of a double-double effort and tallied nine boards at Idaho on Jan. 19.

PEBLEY'S BITS - Pebley is entering her fifth season as head coach at Utah State, which is the longest tenure in the program's history... Pebley has coached 130 games and became the all-time leader in most games coached after the game at Idaho State on Nov. 28, topping Cindy Perkins (1978-82) who coached 115 games in her tenure at Utah State.

- With 39 careers wins, Pebley is second on USU's coaching wins list... Fern Gardner is the current leader with 55 career wins from 1972-1976.

- Four players earned academic all-conference honors in 2007 which include Jenny Gross, Brittany Hagen, Brittany (Tressler) Phillips and Taylor Richards.

- With a total of seven newcomers (four freshmen, three transfers), this is the largest group of newcomer's since Pebley's first season in 2003-04.

UP NEXT - Utah State continues it four-game road stretch at Hawai'i (7-10, 1-3 WAC) on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 11 p.m. (MT) at UH's Stan Sheriff Center (10,300). The Aggies play at Fresno State (9-8, 4-0 WAC) on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. (MT) at FSU's Save Mart Center (15,596) and then ends their road trip on Thursday, Feb. 14 at San Jose State (1-15, 0-3 WAC) at SJSU's Event Center (5,000).