by LOGAN, Utah – Utah State women’s basketball senior guard/forward E’Lease Stafford (Navajo) has been named the Mountain West Player of the Week after helping lead USU to a 96-90 overtime victory against Fresno State at home on Wednesday.
The native of Lawrence, Kansas, registered a double-double with a season-high 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulldogs. Stafford also had three assists and led the Aggies with three steals and two blocks. She finished the night shooting 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the field, 100.0 percent (1-of-1) from behind the arc and 60.0 percent (6-of-10) at the free throw line.
Both of Stafford’s blocks against the Bulldogs came in the fourth quarter. She had a big block with 1:36 to go in the fourth to prevent Fresno State from taking a six-point lead. The Aggies then closed out the quarter with a 4-0 run to tie it at 81-apiece and force overtime.
With USU leading 94-90, Stafford came up with the ball after senior guard Kaylin Randhawa deflected a Fresno State inbounds with less than 20 seconds left in overtime. Stafford made two free throws in the final 15 seconds of overtime to secure the 96-90 Aggie victory.
