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Show Pride: Ags roll in exhibition [] continued from page 9 ketball players, the Utah Pride picked up in the last 10 minutes of the first half by cutting the Aggies lead to five at one point, but they would not be able to maintain the momentum. The Aggies led 40-21 at half time. In the first half, the Pride shot 30.8 percent from the field compared to the Aggies' 43.2 percent. With double the amount of players to rotate, Pebley said she was able to keep her team's energy going throughout the game. "I feel like we played well, but I think there's always room for improvement," junior forward Lindsey Shipley said. "Now we know the areas we really need to focus on. Obviously this gives us more confidence. We can take where we left offlast year and build from there. We're not starting over again." Utah Pride is made up of two ofUSU Shipley's sisters, Emily Walbruch and Cami Kesler. Halfway into the second half, the Aggies led 53-28. From then, the Utah Pride was never able to cut the lead to less than 29. Shipley scored early, aiding the win with nine points. All but one Aggie scored. Junior forward Shawnta Pope gave the team a strong showing off the bench, Shipley said, saying all players were able to contribute something to the overall success of the team. Page II StatesmanSportS Friday, Nov. 1, 2007 "Its a good way to open up our season," said USU senior guard Taylor Richards, who recorded nine points and three assists. "We needed something like that to give the whole team confidence with all the new girls we have. Seeing how we work together, we'll have to make some adjustments. Now we know what to build on." USU will host the College of Idaho Saturday in the Spectrum for its second and final exhibition game. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division U team finished last season 19-10. The lady Yotes run 40 minutes of trapping and full-court defense, Pebley said. Defensive strategies will be the main focus of the team while getting ready for Saturday's game, she said. "We're not going to be able to take a lot that we applied to this game into our next exhibition game," Pebley said. "It's going to be a lot of testing of our experience, decision making and composure." Aggie regular season play kicks off on Nov. 9 when the Tigers of the University of the Pacific head to Logan. Nov. 16 marks the teams first away game, as USU travels to Portland State University. "We're looking for wins," Brown said. "No losses. Wins. That's it. We're trying to go big this year." - eri)iM'(idsworth@aggiemai}. Brothers: Robinson and Rushing [1 continuedfrom page 9 Since Rushing is in charge of left his home in Fresno, Calif., to punt returns, he can take part in be an Aggie. Robinson's success. But Rushing Although they arrived at the said his coaching is more about same time, Robinson said his getting Robinson to follow his choice to come to Utah State had blocks and stay within the play little to do with Rushing's presthan teaching him moves on the ence on the staff. field. It may have had no part in his "Retuming's always been me," younger brother's decision, but Robinson said. "I don't think he that doesn't mean Rushing wasn't can take credit on this one. He recruiting Robinson. may try to say, 'You need to do this "I've kind of been recruiting him or that.' But when I'm on the field, his whole life, basically," Rushing he knows I'm going to do me." said. For the most part, Robinson In fact, Robinson was scheduled may have punt returns under conto make a visit to Montana State trol, but Rushing said he has been the last weekend of recruiting, able to help him get a defensive but when Rushing was hired at back s perspective on Robinson Utah State, Robinson decided to the receiver. Rushing said in the visit Logan instead, Rushing said. off-season and after games, he Robinson's decision came without will give Robinson tips about how any pressure from Rushing, he to attack a certain cornerback said, even though Rushing was technique or another part of recruiting his little brother. Robinson's route running. The rest is really history, as Despite the help and friendly Rushing has been able to watch competition, Robinson said he Robinson rack up returns, receptreats Rushing like a normal coach tions and all-purpose yards. And, and feels he's treated like a regular barring a minor miracle. Rushing player. will get to watch his brother surpass Emmett White as Utah States "I wouldn't say he's harder on all-time leader in career all-purme, but he does sometimes take out some of his aggression on me," pose yards. Robinson only needs 73 yards to push his total of 5,799 Robinson said. "You know that's all love. That's just him, his style of over White's 5,872-yard mark. coaching, so I don't take it personNo doubt that moment will ally, other people may, but like I be special, but Rushing said the said, I've lived with him." whole experience has been a blessThe brothers, who are 13 years ing. apart, have lived together as "I kind of missed a lot of his recently as Robinsons freshman high school, and watching him year, but the living arrangement mature on the football and athletididn't last longer than that. cally, and as a person," he said. "I "That got old really quick," would come back home from colRushing said about their living lege, or wherever 1 was at playing, together. "It was time for him and see him, and he was a lot bigto get on his own, and I kind of ger and a lot faster and all those wanted him to enjoy the true colthings. So I got a chance, with lege experience and not be under both of us coming to Utah State, my wing the whole time." to see him grow as a freshman to a senior. But it may have made sense for the two to share their first year in "I've been lucky that I got to Logan together. Rushing had just make up some time that we left Montana State University to missed growing up." coach at USU, and Robinson had - da.bake@aggiemail. usu.edu Ever questioned how the Bible came to be? BIBLE Seminar Nov. 2nd Nov. 3rd 7pm 9am, 10:30am, & lpm Old Main Room 225 • Presentations on Historicity, Inspiration, Canonization & Translation • Question & Answer session after each presentation • Let your mind be intellectually challenged • Free to everyone r Sponsored by Aggies for Christ Prepping for season finale By SETH R. HAWKINS editor in chief After winning back-to-back tournaments for the first time this season, the USU soccer team is looking to make it three straight. With the Western Athletic Conference Tournament less than a week away, the Aggies still have one final obstacle in Louisiana Tech, whom they play Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field. A win over La Tech would mean more than another tally in the win column, it would be a sign Utah State is overcoming a winloss pattern that has plagued the team all season. "I think we feel good that we got the monkey off our backs in terms of winning games back to back," USU Head Coach Heather Cairns said. "That was a big, important goal for us, playing two quality games in the span of a weekend. I think in general we're playing some of our best soccer that we've played all season, so it's great that that's happening at the end of the season when you try to make a run for the NCAA Tournament." The Aggies come into Saturdays game ranked fourth in the WAC with a 4-2 conference record, an 840 mark overall and have clinched a berth in the tournament. Utah State is only one loss behind the three teams ahead in the WAC, having already beat one of three. The Lady Techsters come to Logan with a 0-5-1 conference record, looking to vindicate close losses to the Aggies in the past two years. After just three years in the WAC, Louisiana Tech is looking for its first conference win ever. Luck may be on their side too as the first goal LTU scored against a WAC opponent was against USU last season. "Louisiana Tech is a team that has progressively gotten better," Cairns said. "We have to go in expecting a really tight game. They haven't had as many results in terms of wins, but they're a much improved team from last year, so we have to be very respectful of them and bring our best game to beat them. I expect them to come out fired up, playing hard." Playing their best game might not be too difficult for the Aggies with a string of forwards on hot streaks, led by freshman Lauren Hansen, who leads the team with six goals, junior Candice Clark and sophomore Erin Salmon, who Caims said she credits for being dangerous in the attack. "I think our attack is looking better than it has been," Cairns said. "Were getting contributions from our midfield in terms of putting points on the board, and that's made a difference. So I think our attack as a whole has just come a long ways." Cairns said she is excited for the improving health and fitness of Salmon, who has played minimal minutes this season due to a knee injury. Cairns said she expects Salmon to play significant minutes in both halves, which will USU SOPHOMORE FORWARD ERIN SALMON dribbles past Boise State's Melanie Bohnet Oct. 14. The Aggies host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Saturday at I p.m. DEBRA HAWKINS photo aid in scoring opportunities. Also on injury watch is team captain Dana Peart, who is slowly recovering from a leg injury. Practicing in a leg brace on Thursday, Cairns said Peart is improving but is not at full capacity. "She doesn't look 100 percent, but the question is going to be can we use Dana at less than a 100 percent? And I think the answer to that is yes, we just have to figure out how much she's capable of doing and how many minutes she capable of playing," Cairns said. "You've got your top point getter who's a senior who wants to come back and make a difference. She's got the mentality to help compensate for anything that's going on with her body." Despite some health concerns, Cairns said her team is playing with intensity and urgency, something she knows is necessary going into tournament play, which begins Thursday, Nov. 8, in Boise, Idaho. "This is getting toward do-ordie season," Cairns said. "You have to switch your mentality a little bit. The wins and losses mean a little bit more this time of year, and come Thursday, they mean a lot more." •seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu |