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Show StatesmanSportS Monday, Dec. J, 2008 Page 9 •WOMEN'S BASKETBALL- Ags fall just short ByJOEWANGEMANN sports senior writer The Aggies held their opponents to less than 50 points all weekend, but it wasn't enough to win it all. The Utah State women's basketball team lost to Monmouth 48-44 in the championship game of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic Saturday in El Paso, Texas. Senior guard Danyelle Snelgro led the Aggies with 12 points and three assists, while junior Lydia Whitehead added eight points. Snelgro and fellow senior guard Ana Pares were named to the all-tournament team, which was chosen by the tournament's four coaches. Six players contributed points as the Aggies led by as many as 12 in the first half, finishing the period ahead 24-19. The second half started slowly for USU as they went over seven minutes without scoring while Monmouth evened the score at 24-24. After six lead changes, the Hawks went on an 80 run to take the lead for good. Utah State's 19 turnovers translated into 19 points for Monmouth while the Aggies scored 12 points off Monmouth's 18 turnovers. The Hawks' bench outscored USU's reserves 12-5. Monmouth also had the advantage in secondchance points, 11-3. The Hawks were led by Jennifer Bender with a game-high 23 points, including 18 in the second half and eight rebounds. USU'S DANYELLA SNELGRO, 4, brings the ball up the court earlier in the season. The Aggies lost the championship game of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic to Monmouth, 48-44. PATRICK ODEN photo The loss came a day after the Aggies defeated Texas State in the first-round of the tournament, 50-47. Against Texas State, Snelgro and Pares had 17 points to lead the Aggies to victory. Snelgro had a game-high four steals while junior Nicole Johnson led the team with seven rebounds. The Aggies came out strong in the first half, taking an early 10-2 lead. Solid defense allowed the Aggies to end the first half ahead 23-13. Texas State's 13 first-half points were the fewest allowed by the Aggies in a half this season. The Bobcats rebounded a bit in the second half, going on a 6-0 run to cut the Aggies' lead. Texas State was able to pull within one point with about five minutes remaining, but would get no closer as the Aggies held on for the threepoint win. The Aggies outshot Texas State from the field, shooting 40 percent from three-point range and 37.5 percent overall while the Bobcats shot 23.5 percent from behind the arc and 35.8 percent overall. USU also shot better from the free-throw line, shooting 66.7 percent versus 41.7 percent from Texas State. The Aggies went 11-18 from the charity stripe in the second half alone. USU is now 3-3 this season, which is the best start for the Aggies since beginning the 200405 season 3-3 as well. The Aggies will return to action against Eastern Washington Saturday ;it 11 a.m. -joseph.w@aggicmail.usu.edu Pummeled: Ags run away in wins [J cmitinuedfrom page 8 last year, USU pulled away midway through the first half and never looked back en route to the 40-poirjt victory. "Corning off the Weber game, the tale of two halves that we had in that one, we knew that 'we had to buckle down and put two of those together," sophomore Tyler Newbold said. "We need to see consistency and I think we're getting better at that, and if we can continue that we'll be all right, we'll do well." Wilkinson paced the Aggies against the Mustangs as he scored 21 points in 21 minutes and pulled down nine rebounds. He was an unstoppable force inside, and former USU recruit Titus Shelton had no answer for Big Red all night. After trailing 14-10 just six minutes into the game the Aggies used a 15-4 run to take control for good. The Ags outscored the Mustangs 3616 over the final 14 minutes to take a 16-point lead to the locker room, 46-30. The second half showed no signs of the Aggies letting up. Wilkinson and Wesley picked up where they left off, dominating in the paint, as USU opened the half with a 19-6 run. With nearly 13-minutes left in the game the majority of the Aggie starters headed to the bench for the remainder of the game, but that didn't hinder the Ags offensive efficiency. Junior Stavon Williams shook off his season long shooting woes and connected on five straight 3-point attempts, including three in a row, pushing the lead to 30. Sophomore center Modou Niang also had his best outing as an Aggie scoring eight points and pulling down six rebounds in 13 minutes of action. "We needed to get those other guys time, let them have some fun and play and get some experience," Morrill said. "We got a lot out of that game, especially time for guys that needed time, that will help us down the road." The win avenged one of two losses the Aggies suffered on the road to former Big West foes last season. USU will get a chance to avenge the second when the host UC Irvine Tuesday night at 7. -l.oslen@aggiemail.usu.edu USU HEAD COACH BRENT GUY talks with a player during the Aggies final football game of the season Saturday. The game was Guy's last as the head coach of the Aggies. TYLER LARSON photo Win: Seniors leave USU with victory [• continued from page 8 which began at the NMSU 40yard line, was sparked by 29yard pass from Borel to senior wide receiver Otis Nelson. Three plays later, freshman running back Robert Turbin had a 1-yard touchdown run. A 26-yard punt return by USU junior cornerback Kejon Murphy helped the hosts start their second drive at the NMSU 34. Turbin jumpstarted the Aggies with a 20yard run. Borel scored a 6-yard touchdown three plays later. A 47-yard return on an interception from junior safety James Brindley helped USU start its final drive of the first quarter at the visitors' 20-yard line. Freshman runningback Marquis Butler put in a 1-yard SENIOR FORWARD GARY W I L K I N S O N helped lead the Aggies to two easy victories over Weber State and Cal Poly during the Thanksgiving break. CAMERON PETERSON photo touchdown to seal the drive. NMSU opened the second half with a failed onside kick, giving the hosts the ball at their own 39. In 11 plays USU only advanced 32 yards for a field goal. USU's defense clamped down on the southern Aggies on the next drive. NMSU senior quarterback Chase Holbrook was sacked for a loss of eight yards on a fourth-and9, giving USU the ball at the NMSU 42. USU drove 10 plays before sophomore running back Curtis Marsh rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and 38-0 lead. "I was very pleased with (our defense)," Borel said. "They played hard the whole year. Our defense isn't bad." USU placekicker Chris Ulinski hit a 56-yard field goal with 8:06 to go in the game. Later in the fourth quarter the USU defense again stopped NMSU on fourth down. The hosts got the ball at their own 37. With senior Sean Setzer at quarterback, USU marched 63 yards to get the game's final score - a 10-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Xavier Bowman. Hutton said the key to the success on defense was USU playing zone instead of man and the defensive line pressuring Holbrook. -samuel.hislop@aggiemaii usu.edu Ready for a Baby? YOU may be eligible for $$cash upon delivery! Benefits payable in addition to other Insurance. Denise Abbott 435-757-7834 Win a FREE iPhone Business Professionals, Sales Reps Wanted j .^ 801-921-5040 Call NOW for details IMSCHOLASTICI Tue Dec 2-Sat Dec 6 T-F 10am-7pm S lOam-Epm W the Cover Pri M- of Books and Gi USU-Lundstrom Hall 1295 E |