OPENING TIP
 

• The Snow College women's basketball team will travel to Price, Utah to take on Utah State University Eastern Wednesday, Dec. 14 inside the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center.

 

• The Badgers will take on the Eagles with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

 

• Snow College is coming off a 72-66 victory over Community Christian College Saturday. This came after the Badgers were defeated by No. 10 Salt Lake Community College Wednesday.  Despite the loss, the Badgers have won four out of their last five games dating back to Nov. 26.

 

• Samiana Suguturaga scored 20 points in the Badger's 72-66 victory over CCC Saturday.  This is the Sophomore's fourth 20-point game this season including a career-high 22 points against Eastern Arizona College Nov. 11.  With a pair of double-digit scoring games last week, Suguturaga takes over the lead on the team in scoring averaging 11.5 points per outing.

 

• Despite losing by 20 points to SLCC, the Badgers were only outscored by three points in quarters one, three, and four.  They were outscored 30-13 in the second quarter which proved to be their downfall.

 

• Snow College shot 48 percent from the field in its victory over CCC.  That marks the highest shooting percentage the Badgers have shot all season.  They average 38.5 percent from the field as a team this year.

 

• The Badgers assisted on 18 of 29 made field goals in their victory over the Saints.  This is the second-highest assist total the Badgers have recorded this season.  They recorded 26 assists on 37 made field goals in their 101-40 victory over Central Wyoming College to start the season.

 
BY THE NUMBERS
 

• With their good shooting performance against CCC, the Badgers moved up to 86^th in the nation in field goal percentage.  Snow College is now shooting 38.5 percent on field goal attempts this season.

 

• The Badgers came into the game against the Saints as one of the best teams in the country at limiting opponent's 3-point percentage this season.  The Saints however shot 43 percent Saturday which raised the Badger's opponent's 3-point percentage to 27.5 percent, which is 78^th in the nation. 

 

• The Eagles as a team shoot 41 percent from the field this season.  That slots them at 50^th overall in the country.  

 

• The Eagles make 7.6 3-pointers per game which is 17^th in the nation.  They are also 11^th in the country at 3-point percentage connecting on 34.7 percent of deep balls this season.

 

• USUE grabs an average of 42.1 rebounds per game which is 41^st in the nation. 

 
ABOUT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EASTERN
 

• The Eagles are 7-4 overall this season and 1-1 in SWAC play.  They are an undefeated 3-0 at home to begin the season.

 

• USUE earned an upset victory over No. 10 Salt Lake Community College Saturday.  The Eagles defeated the Bruins 63-59.

 

• The Eagles are coming off a 2021-22 campaign that saw them go 16-14 overall and 11-7 within SWAC play.  As a team, they averaged 66.6 points per game on 41.3 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from 3-point distance.

 

• Snow College is 23-8 overall against USUE since 2012.  The Badgers lost six out of seven games to the Eagles between Jan. 9, 2020, and Dec. 9, 2021, but since then have won back-to-back matches.  The Badgers average 65.9 points per game as a team against the Eagles.

 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Snow College women's basketball team was defeated by Salt Lake Community College 86-66 Wednesday before defeating Community Christian College 72-66 Saturday.
 
The Snow College women's basketball team suffered an 86-66 defeat at the hands of the No. 10 ranked Salt Lake Community College Bruins Wednesday in Ephraim.
 
The Badgers entered Wednesday's matchup having won three consecutive games including two victories over the College of Southern Nevada last weekend to begin Scenic West Athletic Conference play.
 
Snow College was only outscored by a total of three points in the first, third and fourth quarters combined.  It was a rough second quarter that would be the Badger's downfall.  The Badgers were outscored 56-53 in the first, third and fourth while being outscored 30-13 in the second quarter.
 
Snow College jumped out to an 11-9 lead early in the first quarter but would go into the second quarter tied at 13.  The Bruins gained a four-point lead within the first few minutes of the second before going on a 19-3 run over a five-minute stretch to take a 20-point lead.  The Bruins would eventually lead 43-26 at the halftime break.
 
The Badgers would not be able to cut into the lead beyond 14 points in the third quarter.  They would trail by as much as 23 en route to the 86-66 defeat.
 
Three Badgers finished in double figures led by Suguturaga who scored 13 points on 4-6 shooting.  Marika Collins put in 12 points and grabbed six rebounds while Grayce Glover tallied 10 points and four rebounds in the loss.
 
Snow College would turn around to take on CCC Saturday.  The Badgers earned their sixth victory of the season and third within SWAC play as they defeated the Saints 72-66.
 
The Badgers would have their best shooting performance of the season as they shot 48 percent from the field, their highest total all season.
 
Snow College jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game thanks to six quick points from Suguturaga.  The Saints would punch back and eventually take a two-point lead before the Badgers took a 30-24 lead into halftime.
 
CCC brought the score to 34-32 midway through the third quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Suguturaga gave the Badgers an eight-point lead. The Badgers led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter before earning the 72-66 victory.
 
Suguturaga led the way in scoring again as she finished with her second double-double of the season scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.  Enid Vaifanua finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists while Emily Evans put in 11 points and six rebounds. 
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
 

• Distribute the ball effectively: Snow College is 5-1 this season when they assist on 55 percent or more of their made field goals in games.  They are 1-6 in games in which they don't assist on at least 55 percent of their made field goals this season.  If they are able to share the ball and create open shots, they will have a good shot at taking down the Eagles.

 

• Play pesky defense:  The Eagles struggle to take care of the ball as they average 19.6 turnovers per game as a team this season.  On paper, these teams are very similar, but it will be imperative for the Badgers to play tough defense and force turnovers that lead to easy points.

 
UP NEXT
 

• Snow College will return home to take on Colorado Northwestern Community College Friday, Dec. 16 inside the Horne Activity Center in Ephraim, with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

 

• The Spartans are 4-5 overall this season and have not started SWAC play yet.  As a team, the Spartans average 64.4 points per game this season.  They are shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from beyond the arc to start the year. 

 

• CNCC is coming off a 2021-22 season that saw it go 8-22 overall and 3-15 within SWAC play.  They lost 77-53 in the first round of the Region 18 tournament to Snow College Feb. 23, 2022.

 

• The Badgers are 38-1 overall against the Spartans since 2012 with their lone loss coming in a 57-46 loss Feb. 23, 2013.  Since then, the Badgers have won 33 straight games and are a perfect 18-0 at home against the Spartans.