February 15, 2007 (USU Media Relations) - LOGAN, Utah - Brittany Phillips continued her stretch of great play recording 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Utah State to a 59-44 women's basketball victory against Nevada here Thursday night.
The victory was the third straight for USU, which matched its longest winning streak since the 2005 season. The Aggies improved to 10-13 overall and 6-5 in WAC play, while Nevada fell to 12-12 and 6-5.
Phillips was named the Western Athletic Conference player of the week on Monday and then came out hot again on Thursday. The senior forward from Orem, Utah drained seven of 12 shots, including one of two three-pointers en route to her game-high 17 points. The 17 points marked her third-best total this year.
Jenny Gross added 11 points, her most in the last six games, and seven rebounds for the Aggies. Nevada was led by 14 points from Traci Graham and 10 points from Marissa Hammond.
The game also marked the return to the sideline of Aggie head coach Raegan Pebley, who had missed three straight games after having a baby on Jan. 30. USU actually played four games without her as she was on the sideline for a home game against Hawai'I on Nov. 27.
After opening the second half by scoring the first eight points, Utah State held a double-figure lead for most of the remainder of the game. Nevada cut the margin to eight at 13:57 and to nine at 12:18 before the home team built up as much as a 17-point lead (53-36) en route to the victory.
In the first half, USU trailed 5-4 before Phillips keyed a 10-0 run with seven straight points to put the Aggies up 14-5. However, Nevada tied the game up at 18-18 with 5:31 remaining before the Aggies took a 28-24 lead into the break.
USU took over in the second half out-scoring Nevada 31-20, while shooting 38.7 percent to the visitor's 26.9 percent mark. USU committed just 13 turnovers while Nevada made 21 mistakes with the ball in the game.
Danyelle Snelgro and Camille Brox saw extensive time at point guard after starter Taylor Richards was knocked out of the game in the second half. Richards suffered a cut around her eye in a second-half collision and did not return.
Snelgro had six points and a season-high tying seven assists, while Brox added six points, four assists and four rebounds in 27 minutes of play off the bench.
The Aggies will make a quick turnaround and play at Hawai'I on Saturday at 10 p.m. mountain time. USU will then return home for a pair of games against New Mexico State on Feb. 22 and Louisiana Tech on Feb. 24.
