February 22, 2007 (USU Media Relations) - LOGAN, Utah - It took an extra five minutes, but Utah State's women's basketball team won for the fourth time in five games, defeating New Mexico State 70-67 in overtime here Thursday night.
Taylor Richards scored 19 points for USU, which improved to 11-14 overall and 7-6 in the WAC. The visitors fell to 10-15 overall and 5-8 in league play despite a spectacular performance by Sherell Neal, who scored 28 points and had 19 rebounds.
Utah State rallied to force the overtime after trailing by as many as six points (52-46) with 7:38 remaining in the game. USU scored seven straight points to take a 53-52 lead at the 5:07 mark and the teams remained within three points of each other throughout regulation.
Neal tied the game for NMSU at 59-59 hitting the second of two free throws with :41 remaining before Richards hit two free throws for USU at the 30.7 mark. However, the visiting Aggies tied the game on a layup by Neal with 10 seconds left and a USU turnover on the ensuing possession sent the game into the extra period.
From there, USU scored on three straight possessions and led 66-63. Camille Brox came up with a big steal and dished to Jenny Gross, who scored on a layup to put USU up 68-65 with :58 left.
After Neal pulled NMSU within 69-67 on another layup with :05 left, USU's Jamelah Brown made the second of two free throws and a three-point attempt by NMSU's Cecilia Russell-Nava bounced off the rim to end the game.
Brittany Phillips was the only other USU player to score in double-figures as she pumped in 15 on five of seven shooting. Phillips moved into ninth place on the USU career scoring list as she reached double-figure points for the seventh straight game and 10th time in last 11 contests.
The Aggies played without injured guard Danyelle Snelgro. Camille Brox stepped into the starting role and responded by scoring nine points, grabbing six rebound, handing out four assists, and recording two steals, without a turnover in 34 minutes.
Three Aggies grabbed seven rebounds in the game, including Brittany Hagen, whose total was a season high.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball as USU hit just 37.9 percent and NMSU finished at 39.7 percent. However, USU made three of five shots in overtime, while NMSU was just two of eight.
The game was the second overtime contest of the year for USU, which had defeated Fresno State 81-75 in Logan earlier in the year. USU has now won five of its last six home games and improved to 7-4 in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum this season.
Utah State will host Louisiana Tech on Saturday in its final home game of the season. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. The Aggies will recognize three special seniors, who will play their final home game in Camille Brox, Brittany Hagen and Brittany Phillips. This trio is the first senior class to be here four years since the program was re-instated in 2004.
