BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team captured its second-straight Western Athletic Conference championship on Saturday thanks to veteran play from Shanice Davis and Moriah Mack. The two combined for 37 points in the Aggies' 67-59 victory over CSU Bakersfield at the Icardo Center, giving NM State its 13th-straight victory.
 
"Have to tip my hat to CSU Bakersfield, it was the best defense we've seen all year," said head coach Mark Trakh. "Their kids played hard and well, but I'm proud of my kids for gutting it out. It was just a very well-played conference game."
 
With the win tonight, NM State (22-3, 11-0) secured the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament (March 9-12), and will have a bye in the quarterfinals.
 
Down 45-41 heading into the final 10 minutes of play, New Mexico State's defense finally turned up the heat on CSU Bakersfield and forced the 'Runners into seven turnovers.
 
After Batabe Zempare opened the fourth quarter with a bucket for CSUB (8-18, 5-6 WAC), NM State reeled off six-straight points to tie the game up at 47 and forced CSUB to call a timeout.
 
The 'Runners retook the lead after the timeout with a pair of free-throws, but a jumper from Sasha Weber at the free-throw line extended knotted things back up at 49 with 8:01 left to play.
 
From that point on, it was all New Mexico State as the Aggies went on an 18-10 run to finish out the game. Tamera William played a huge role on the defensive front for NM State during that stretch as the junior tallied nine points to go with five rebounds and three steals.
 
The run in the final eight minutes of play was paced by Mack, who scored 12 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, and orchestrated by Davis, who finished with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists.
 
"Shanice started the second half really well for us and then Moriah was the best player on the floor tonight, hands down," said Trakh, when asked about the turnaround in the second half.
 
Davis recorded all 17 of her points in the second half, 12 of which came in the third quarter when NM State needed her most. The senior point guard was 4-7 from the field, but none more important than her 3-pointers in the third frame to keep NM State within striking distance. The Killeen, Texas, native was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the third quarter, including her two from 3-point land.
 
NM State's comeback was not made possible without its great shooting in the second half. The Aggies shot 63.6-percent from the floor in the third frame and 64.3-percent in the fourth quarter to make up for its .275 shooting clip in the first half.
 
New Mexico State now heads to Seattle, Wash., for its final road game of the regular-season against Seattle U at 8 p.m. (MT) on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Connolly Center on the American Sports Network.
 
POSTGAME NOTES: The win also marked the 13th-straight win for NM State, making it the second-longest winning-streak in program history…Last time NM State won a game when trailing at the half was at New Mexico on Dec. 20, 52-47…The Aggies also trailed after three quarters of play for just the fifth time all season, they were 2-2 in that category heading into tonight's game…Tonight's game was the first time NM State had less steals than its opponent and still won since Chicago State (Jan. 16), Aggies are now 3-2 when opponents have more steals…Weber's two points tonight has her in sole possession of eighth-place in the all-time scoring list at NM State with 1,436, passing Sherell Neal (1,435, 2004-04)…Aggies now 12-3 when out-rebounding their opponents…NM State now 20-1 when opponents have more turnovers.