Utah State wins women's battle of the Aggies 57-45

LOGAN — Three players in double-figures led Utah State to a 57-45 win over New Mexico State in a women’s basketball all-Aggie contest Saturday afternoon at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in a regionally televised game.

USU had a successful Play 4Kay event, wearing pink-themed warm-ups and pink socks in its effort to promote breast cancer awareness. The first 500 fans in attendance also received pink T-shirts.

With the win, the Aggies improved to 16-7 overall and 7-2 in Western Athletic Conference action, while NMSU lost its second in a row and sixth in the last eight to fall to 5-19 overall and 2-7 in WAC play.

With the win, the navy Aggies swept the season series over the maroon Aggies for the third time in seven seasons as WAC foes, and was USU’s fourth straight win over NMSU, cutting the deficit to 18-15 in the maroon Aggies’ favor.

Junior guard Jenna Johnson led Utah State with a season-high 11 points, while senior forward Maddy Plunkett and junior guard Devyn Christensen netted 10 points apiece. Christensen scored all 10 of her points in the second half, as USU pulled away from a 27-18 halftime lead, improving to 13-2 on the season when leading at intermission.

Senior forward Ashlee Brown pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points. Saturday was Brown’s ninth double-digit rebounding outing, and she also dished out a season-high five assists. Plunkett matched Brown with five assists for a new career-high.

NMSU also had three players in double-figures led by Tabytha Wampler’s game-best 12 points, while Kelsie Rozendaal and Dre’ Chenier tossed in 10 each. Wampler and Erica Sanchez snared seven rebounds each as the maroon Aggies had a slight 38-35 rebounding edge, as USU is now 8-7 when out-rebounding the opposition.

The home Aggies shot 22-of-53 (41.5 percent) from the field, including 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from three-point range, as Plunkett hit a pair of treys and senior guard Brooke Jackson added one. USU was also 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) at the free-throw line.

NMSU made 31.0 percent (18-of-58) of its field goals, making 17.4 percent (4-of-23) behind the arc, and were 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) at the charity stripe.

The USU defense forced 20 NMSU turnovers, which the home team converted into a 26-12 points off turnovers advantage. Utah State also had a 36-22 points in the paint edge.