February 5, 2007 (USU Media Relations) -

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Behind senior forward Brittany Phillips¹ career highs
of 25 points and 12 rebounds, Utah State won the battle of the Aggies with a
68-51 win over New Mexico State Thursday night at NMSU¹s Pan American Center
at Las Cruces, N.M.  A nationally-televised audience witnessed USU snap its
eight-game road losing skid.
    Utah State was without head coach Raegan Pebley, who gave birth to a
baby girl Tuesday.  Assistant coach George Brosky was the acting head coach,
with assistance from Kristy Flores and Erin Scholz.  Thursday was the third
game that Pebley has missed, but was the navy Aggies¹ first win under
Brosky.
    Utah State improves to 8-13 overall and 4-5 in Western Athletic
Conference play, and beat New Mexico State for the second time in a row on
the maroon-clad Aggies¹ home court.  The win snapped USU¹s eight-game losing
streak, and are now 2-10 overall on the road.  Last season¹s only road win
came on the same floor and was USU¹s historic first WAC victory.
    New Mexico State suffered its fourth loss in the last five games,
falling to 9-12 overall and 4-5 in WAC action.
    Phillips, who hit a season-high three three-pointers, was one of three
navy-clad Aggies in double-digits. Junior forward Jamelah Brown tallied 13
points off the bench, hitting a career-high three three-pointers, as USU was
8-22 (36.4 percent) behind the arc.  Junior guard Taylor Richards added 12
points.
    USU shot 40.7 percent (24-59) from the field, including 13-29 (40.7
percent) in the second half, pulling away from a 35-31 halftime lead.  The
northern Aggies also were 12-13 (92.3 percent) at the free throw line, paced
by 4-4 from Phillips and 3-4 from Richards.
    NMSU was 21-62 (33.9 percent) field goal shooting, including 3-11 (27.3
percent) from three-point range and were just 6-12 (50 percent) at the
charity stripe.
    The southern Aggies were led by Anikia Jawara¹s 21 points to go with
nine rebounds, while Sherell Neal tallied 11 rebounds along with nine
points.
    USU¹s reserves out-scored their counterparts, 20-6, and had a 27-14
advantage in points off turnovers, forcing 20 NMSU miscues, compared to only
committing 16.
    NMSU led 22-15 with 5:30 left in the half, but then USU went on a 13-0
burst, started by Phillips with a layup and ended by Phillips with a jumper
with 2:25 to go and put USU ahead, 28-22, and went into halftime leading
35-31.
    The maroon Aggies came out of intermission and knotted the score at
38-all, but an 18-3 navy Aggie barrage put the game out of reach.
    USU wraps up its three-game road swing at Idaho on Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
(MT), before returning home to host Nevada on Feb. 15 at the Dee Glen Smith
Spectrum.
    Ticket prices for USU regular-season games are $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.
    Utah State women¹s basketball games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in
Logan with Evan Nyman calling the play-by-play and Clair Anderson providing
color commentary for home games. They can also be heard on the web by going
to the women¹s basketball home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking
on the LISTEN link.
    All USU games are also available on wac.tv.