Jan. 11, 2007

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LOGAN, Utah - Brittany Phillips scored a season-high 20 points and Jenny Gross recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 18 points and a career-best tying 10 rebounds as Utah State defeated Idaho 78-70 in women's basketball action here Thursday night.

The Aggies improved to 6-9 overall and 2-1 in the WAC, while Idaho fell to 3-11 and 0-3.

Utah State held off a late Idaho rally to get the win. The Aggies built up an 18-point lead less than four minutes into the second half after a pair of Gross free throws gave the home team a 50-32 lead.

Idaho cut the margin to 62-60 on a three-pointer by Sara Dennehy at the 6:37 mark, but the Vandals could never take the lead. USU responded with a 5-1 run behind a Taylor Richards three pointer and a layup by Gross. USU then pushed its lead to as many as nine en route to the win.

The Aggies raced out to a 43-27 halftime lead, shooting 51.6 percent from the field. USU's 43 points were one shy of its most points in any half this season behind only the 44 the Aggies scored in the second half against Idaho State on Nov. 17.

USU cooled off in the second half, shooting just 36.7 percent to finish the game at 44.3 percent. Idaho shot 40.7 percent, including 52.0 percent in the second half during its comeback.

Idaho was led by the duo of Liz Witte, who had 26 points and six rebounds, and Katie Madison, who scored 25 and pulled down a game-high 12 boards.

USU had a third player reach double-figure points in the game as Richards hit five of eight shots for 12 points. Danyelle Snelgro handed out a career high seven assists, while also adding three steals to go along with six points for the Aggies.

USU showed some inside strength in the first half as Phillips recorded three blocks to go along with two offensive rebounds. Gross added four offensive rebounds in the game as did Lindsey Freeze. The Aggies finished with five blocks and 15 offensive rebounds in the game.

USU will travel to Louisiana Tech on Monday, Jan. 15 for its next game and first WAC road contest of the year. The Aggies will then return home to host San Jose State on Saturday, Jan. 20.