Broncos Overpower Aggies in Home Win

Saturday, February 18

Boise, Idaho

2 p.m. MT

Boise State

15-14,10-6Mountain West

Utah State

4-22,1-14Mountain West

Utah St.

Boise St.

Photo by: Tyler McFarland

2/18/2023 5:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOISE, Idaho – Natalie Pasco scored a career-high 29 points to power Boise State past Utah State, 89-41, Saturday, in the team's final home game of the season.

The Broncos (15-14, 10-6 MW) scored the first seven points of the game to seize control from the opening tip. Pasco scored 12 first-quarter points as the team led the Aggies (4-22, 1-14 MW) 25-7 after the first 10 minutes.

Boise State continued its hot streak in the second quarter, shooting 58.3% from the floor. Holding a 29-15 lead with 5:33 to go in the half, the Broncos finished the quarter on a 18-2 run to take a 30-point lead into the break.

After conceding the first bucket of the half to Utah State, Boise State scored the next nine straight points and never looked back. The Broncos outscored the Aggies by 18 in the second half to cruise to a home victory.

Notables

- Boise State picked up its 10th MW win of the season. The Broncos have won 10+ conference games in nine of the past 10 seasons, the most of any MW team in that span.
- Boise State defeated Utah State by 48 points, the largest margin of victory against a MW opponent since joining the league in 2011.
- Natalie Pasco scored 19 of her career-high 29 points in the first half, the most a Bronco has scored in a half all season
- Mary Kay Naro dished out five assists, moving into sixth place all-time in program history with 323 career dimes.
- The Broncos outrebounded the Aggies 64-26, the largest rebounding margin of the season.
- Pasco hit five 3-pointers, the third time this season the freshman has hit five or more triples in a game.

Top Broncos

- Natalie Pasco scored a career-high 29 points on the night. The freshman shot 10-of-20 from the floor, 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and made all four of her free throw attempts.
- Tatum Thompson shot 4-of-8 from the field to finish with 13 points. The freshman also drained all four of her attempts from the charity stripe.
- Anna Ostlie made three of her four 3-point attempts to finish with nine points.
- Elodie Lalotte recorded nine points and 10 rebounds.

Quotables

"I was really pleased with our start. They sagged in on us and our perimeter players hit like crazy. Natalie and Tatum in the first half were really special players." – head coach Gordy Presnell

"We've hung our hat on rebounding all year and it proved effective today. Rebounding is an effort and a desire thing and we certainly rebounded the ball well today." – Presnell

"Every night I go to bed thinking about what I can do for the team. Lately my shots have been falling but I also want to bring the energy and hype people up. I want my teammates to stay confident." – junior guard Anna Ostlie

What's Next

The Broncos will return to the hardwood Thursday night against San Jose State in California. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on the MW Network.