WBB Preview: Aggies Host Nevada For Senior Night

Utah State will be honoring a senior class that represents a bit of everything Utah State women's basketball is, and is trying to become.

Five seniors will be honored as the Aggies host Nevada in their final regular season Mountain West game: Marina Asensio, Karyn Sanford, Rachel Wilson, Sophie Sene and Jamisyn Heaton.

These two schools share a long and storied rivalry on the hardwood, and Nevada won’t turn down an opportunity to take one last shot at its long-time conference foe before it departs for the Pac-12.

After Utah State's loss to New Mexico, coach Wes Brooks took a different tune.

"I told these seniors the other day, the season has not gone the way we wanted, but it's the memories that you're going to have for the rest of your life," Brooks said. "It's the teammates that you'll have for the rest of your life. You're always welcome back to Utah State.

"You helped build a program. You laid a foundation block and you can always be proud of the foundation block you built, because we're going to get this thing turned around and win some games here in the future. You can always say, 'Hey, that's my school, that's my program.' I’m really, really, really proud of our girls."

When a coach shifts the narrative like this, it can be seen as throwing in the towel. But that wasn’t true of Brooks. Instead, it was an acknowledgment that the season hasn’t gone the way he wanted it to go, derailed by injuries and soured by a long (now 16 games) losing streak. And a statement that, despite all the difficulty, there is still something to be proud of.

Clearly, the Aggies weren’t giving up, and they proved that a few days later when they fought tooth and nail against the Boise State Broncos. They couldn’t come back from a late third quarter 14-0 run, but the Aggies were winning before that, and nearly matched pace with the Broncos afterward.

That will continue tonight and this weekend as the Aggies look to win on senior night and in the MWC tournament. At this point, nothing will save the season, but nothing will take away from what this team has accomplished.

Earlier in the week, radio man Ajay Salvesen said it best:

"I could not be more proud of this basketball team, considering all they have been through with the adversity, injuries and demanding young players to have to step up and play major roles, this team continues to amaze me with their fight, their heart, and that they are so coachable.

"In saying that, I think there needs to be a massive amount of appreciation for what coach Brooks and his staff are also doing with a very bare bone squad. Any other team in the Mountain West Conference that would have gone through what this team has would be feeling the same effects that Wes has felt."

Coach Brooks shared a similar sentiment.

"Please come support these terrific young women. I am thankful for their belief in Utah State women’s basketball!!!"

Asensio and Sene won’t play, but together they represent the elevated level of recruiting and development at Utah State. Sanford and Wilson also represent an ability to bring talent to Logan, and they both play with a style of grit and selflessness that embodies the program. Heaton, meanwhile, has become the unlikely star of this class and of the team.

Her stardom isn’t unlikely because she is unworthy of it or because her skillset is out of place on a Division I basketball court. Her stardom is unlikely because of the path she took to get there. She transferred from the College of Southern Idaho, blazing a trail that would be followed by Macie Brown, and has excelled in various roles while playing out of position for practically her entire tenure.

"She's the heart and soul of (our program)," Brooks said. "Her will is relentless. She's a fighter. She's a competitor. She's everything that we want. She's a true-blooded Aggie."