January 27, 2007 (USU Media Relations) - LOGAN, Utah – Utah State was down nine points at 55-46 with 2:38 to play and closed the gap to 58-57 with 22.8 seconds left, but the Aggies couldn't get over the hump, falling to Hawai'i, 62-57, Saturday night in a Western Athletic Conference women's basketball contest at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, spoiling USU's “Think Pink Night.”

The loss moves USU to 7-12 overall and 3-4 in WAC action, after losing on a Saturday for the first time this season, as the Aggies are now 3-1 on Saturdays. Hawai'i, which won for just the second time in its last nine games is now 8-12 overall and 2-6 in WAC play.

The Rainbow Wahine have also won three in a row against the Aggies, evening the all-time series at 3-3.

Senior forward Brittany Phillips hit three-pointers on consecutive USU possessions in the final minute as the Aggies mounted a rally, but it came up short. Phillips ended the game with a season-high three three-pointers, part of 11 points.

Fellow senior guard Taylor Richards tied a career-high with three treys, as she netted a team-high 13 points, giving her 730 for her career and moving into No. 11 on USU's career points list. Sophomore forward Lindsey Freeze led USU with a season-high seven rebounds to go with eight points, while sophomore guard Danyelle Snelgro dished out a game-high five assists.

Hawai'i had three players in double-figures, led by Tanya Smith's 24 points. Smith entered the game as a 59 percent free throw shooter, but hit 10-11 at the free pitch stripe Saturday. Megan Tinnin hit four treys on the way to 17 points. Pam Tambini notched her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and game-high 10 rebounds, leading the Rainbow Wahine to a 42-33 rebounding advantage.

USU shot better behind the arc (40.9 percent, 9-22) than they did from the field, hitting 33.3 percent (21-63). The Aggies were just 54.5 percent (6-11) at the free throw line.

Hawai'i was 41.3 percent from the field (19-46), also shooting better behind the arc at 41.7 percent (5-12) from three-point range. The Rainbow Wahine were also 19-26 (73.1 percent) at the charity stripe.

The Aggies committed a season-low 10 turnovers, compared to 18 miscues for Hawai'i.

The Rainbow Wahine, who led from start-to-finish, went on a 7-0 run to take a 23-13 lead before Utah State closed out the half with a 9-2 run, capped by a three-pointer from just inside the mid-court line by Richards at the buzzer to send the Aggies into halftime down 25-22.

Hawai'i came out of halftime with a 6-0 streak, forcing USU to take a timeout. The deficit grew to 42-32 after an old-fashioned three-point play by Smith at the 12:45 mark. After UH went up 55-46 with 2:38 to go after another three-point play from Smith, USU started its comeback.

The Aggies open a three-game road swing by heading to San Jose, Calif., to take on San Jose State on Saturday, Feb. 3. The Aggies then head to Las Cruces, N.M., for the Aggie clash with the maroon-clad Aggies of New Mexico State on Monday, Feb. 5 in a nationally televised game on CSTV. Utah State wraps up the road swing with a match-up with Idaho on Feb. 10 at Moscow, Idaho.

The Aggies return home to take on Nevada on Feb. 15.

Utah State games can be heard on KLGN (1390 AM) in Logan with Evan Nyman calling the play-by-play. They can also be heard on the web by going to the women's basketball home page at www.UtahStateAggies.com [1] and clicking on the LISTEN link.