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Show StatesmanSports Page 8 Friday, March 9, 2012 2012 WAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT March 8 March 7 March 9 March 9 March 10 72-70 6 p.m. 65-49 MEN ss ZVA 0 4 Ok° WOLF PACK vs zVA1) 4 9 p.m. WOLF PACK 54-44 8:30 p.m. Ilk Urc 70-72 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Freshman Vaaulu shines in tournament win BY TYLER HUSKINSON assistant sports editor LAS VEGAS —The big-game environment of a conference tournament can bring pressure enough to make the most experienced player wilt, but that wasn't the case for USU freshman Franny Vaaulu on Wednesday. "It's fun when you see young players come into a tournament," USU head coach Raegan Pebley. "We say `Hang loose, Franny.' Whether it's the Poly background or what, you cannot ever see a change of expression in Franny. She is slow and steady. You wonder sometimes. That helps her handle situations as a young player like this with so much poise and composure, and that's what we needed with the combination of skill." The forward from Los Angeles didn't record huge stats — four points, six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes — but her defensive intensity in the second half changed the momentum in USU's favor, en route to a 75-66 quarterfinal win over the Nevada Wolf Pack at the Orleans Arena. "She has been playing really steady as of late, and she's been playing with a maturity that is special to see," junior guard Devyn Christensen said. "She made her defensive presence known, and she elevated our play." USU trailed 32-28 at half, and Nevada's lead was mostly from the points in the paint added by senior guard Kate Kevorken, who had 10 points at half and a team-high 21 points, and reserve freshman forward Emily Burns, who had eight points at half. Nevada finished the game with 46 points in the paint and had 22 points in the paint at half. USU senior forward Ashlee Brown, who narrowly missed a triple-double with 17 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, swatted Nevada's Kayla Williams on the Wolf Pack's first possession of the second half. Vaaulu picked up the first of her three blocks four minutes later. "Ashlee is my role model," Vaaulu said. "I go off of her. She basically told me I had to pick it up and I picked it up. I just know I have to rebound and play defense and that's my mentality." The freshman out of Warren High School swatted two more shots before picking up her fourth foul of the game and heading to the bench. "I love the potential she has," Pebley said. "We see her as a young lady that could develop as a player similar to Ashlee. That's what we recruited her as — a four. She came from a great high school and a club program. They always do a really good job developing talent and understanding the game, and not just being a 6-foot-3, back-to-the-basket post player." - ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu Aggies to face Lady Techsters in semifinal round of WAC championship BY CURTIS LUNDSTROM staff writer LAS VEGAS — With its win over Nevada in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday, the Utah State women's basketball team advanced to face Louisiana Tech on Friday in the semifinals. "We're going to attack La. Tech," senior forward Ashlee Brown said after the game against Nevada. "You know they're going to bring it, and we're going to bring it. They're going to scout, and we're going to scout. Regardless of today's stats, I'm looking forward to La. Tech." Third-seeded Louisiana Tech is coming off of a 63-54 first-round win against sixth-seeded Hawaii, despite two players reaching double digits in scoring. Senior guard Jasmine Bendolph scored a game-high 20 points, and senior forward Shantale Bramble-Donaldson finished with 13. The Aggies and Lady Techsters will meet for the third time this season after splitting the regular season meetings. Utah State came out on top 79-62 on Jan. 14 in Ruston, La., — head coach Raegan Pebley's 100th career win at the helm. Louisiana Tech got revenge in Logan, as the Techsters overcame a six-point deficit in the final three and a half minutes for an 82-76 victory. "Our side of the bracket has teams with tournament experience," Pebley said. "La. Tech is one of those teams." According to NCAA Statistics, Utah State fin- TIER II TUITION PROPOSAL - Public Forum MARCH 22, 2012, 11:00 A.M. ished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the country in 3-point field-goal percentage at 39.2 percent. The Aggies are also ranked fifth nationally in freethrow percentage at 78.9 percent. Junior guard Devyn Christensen, ranked No. 4 in the country, leads the Aggies in free-throw shooting at 90 percent, and fellow guard Brooke Jackson is No. 11 at 88.8 percent. Against Nevada, senior forward Ashlee Brown set the single-season school record for free throws made and became the eighth player from Utah State to reach the 500-rebound mark for her career. "Ashlee (Brown) has invested into the development on the defensive end in her off-ball offense and off-ball defense," Pebley said. "I think what makes her such a successful defender is her off-ball defense. We put a lot of responsibility on her to make sure that she is helping us get it done. I am really proud of her." Overall, Utah State is 2-13 against La. Tech with road wins in 2009 and this season. Utah State is 0-1 against La. Tech in the WAC Tournament, suffering an 82-65 loss to the Lady Techsters in the quarterfinals in 2009. The Aggies will look to win their fourth WAC Tournament game ever, as USU is 3-6 all-time in after Wednesday's victory over Nevada. Utah State has won its first-round game in three of the past four seasons and has never made the final game. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday. Perfect Partner 1.1 TAGGART STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM Let us help plan your big day All concerned students and citizens are invited to the public hearing on the proposed increase. Comments are welcome. - curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu HO L LEST Magazines 1. Food Network Magazine 2. Marie Claire 3. Elle Decor 4. Wired 5. GQ Your Best Choice for Wedding Invitations & paper goods 6. People Style Watch 7.Cosmopolitan\ 8. Rolling Stone 9. Businessweek 10. Vanity Fair _N OV SQUARE Ail UtahStateUn iversity ■IPS ON E PRINTING 630 West 200 North 753 8875 Source: Adweek - © 2012 by King Features Syndicate, Inc. World rights reserved. |