LOGAN, Utah – After being down by 13 points in the middle of the third quarter, the Utah State women’s basketball (5-7, 0-2 Mountain West) rallied back to earn the 69-61 victory over Idaho State (4-5) on Thursday night inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Bengals held a 47-34 lead with 5:18 left to play in the third quarter. The Aggies then turned around to end the period with a 12-3 run, which included a set of threes from senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker and freshman guard Faith Brantley, to make it a four-point game, 50-46, heading into the final stanza.

Utah State and Idaho State went back-and-forth to open the four quarter until another Brantley triple gave the Aggies their first lead, 58-56, since the opening bucket of the game. A Bengal layup tide the game back up at 58-58 with 2:20 left on the clock, but strong free throw shooting from the Aggies helped USU extend its lead and seal the 69-61 victory.

The Aggies had a season-high 24 makes at the free throw line, shooting 92.3 percent (24-of-36) at the charity stripe on the night.

USU was led by Jensen-Baker with 22 points, senior forward Hailey Bassett with 15 and senior forward Marlene Aniambossou with 11. Aniambossou led the Aggies on the glass with a career-high-tying nine rebounds.

Idaho State was led by freshman guard Tomekia Whitman with 20 points.

Utah State shot 42.6 percent (20-of-47) from the field and 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from behind the arc. Idaho State shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the floor, 30.0 percent (6-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) at the free throw line.

USU will play its final non-conference contest of the season as the Aggies take on in-state rival Utah Valley (1-9) on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m., in the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah.



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