by By Jaden Johnson, USU communications
LOGAN, Utah — Utah State women’s basketball (4-9, 2-6 MW) overcame a halftime deficit and took a lead late in the third quarter, but ultimately lost at home to UNLV (7-6, 5-3 MW), 73-62, on Wednesday night inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Redshirt sophomore guard Shyla Latone (Zuni Pueblo) scored in double figures for the third consecutive game, leading the Aggies with a game-high 24 points. She was followed by freshman guard/forward Halle Nelson with a career-high 11 points, while also adding eight rebounds and a team-high three steals. Senior forward Jessica Chatman led both sides on the glass, pulling down a season-high-tying 13 rebounds as the Aggies won the battle of the boards, 42-38, including a season-high 18 offensive rebounds.
Facing a 36-21 deficit at the half, USU came out strong to start the third quarter, using a 19-5 run to regain the lead, 42-41, with 2:50 to play. UNLV countered with a 9-4 run to end the quarter and take a four-point advantage into the final stanza. The game remained close throughout the fourth, but fouls came into to play as the Aggies had four players with four or more fouls, including sophomore guard Faith Brantley who fouled out with 9:15 to play in the game. The disqualification was the first of her career. USU was whistled for 12 fourth-quarter fouls, which resulted in 16 free throws for the Lady Rebels down the stretch.
UNLV was led in both scoring and rebounding for the second-straight contest by redshirt sophomore forward Delaynie Byrne, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
As a team, Utah State shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field, 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from 3-point range and 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the free throw line. UNLV shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field, while shooting 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from the 3-point line and 66.7 percent (22-of-33) from the charity stripe.
