LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State women's basketball team returns home, looking to stay undefeated at the Pan American Center. On Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 1:00 p.m. the Aggies square off against Pepperdine and on Friday, Nov. 25, at 5:00 p.m. the team will play host to New Mexico Highlands.
 
The first match-up against Pepperdine can be heard on 91.5 FM KRUX as Adam Young will have the play-by-play. The game will also be broadcast on the WAC Digital Network.
 
GET CONNECTED
To stay connected with the women's basketball team with up-to-date information and breaking news, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, @NMStateWBB.
 
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Wednesday's game will feature thankful videos in which fans in attendance can learn what we are all thankful for during this holiday season. During Friday's game, there will be frozen turkey bowling at halftime which fans can participate in.
 
ONE OF THE BEST
Junior guard Zaire Williams has proven to be one of the best in the country when it comes to sharing the ball. Williams is third in the NCAA with 31 assists, through four games. The Dana Point, Calif. native had 10 assists against New Mexico and quickly followed that up with a season-high, 12, against Sacramento State in the Bank of Hawaii Classic.
 
MAKING HER NAME KNOWN
Tyesha Taylor, coming off the bench, is showing she can hang with the best of them. Through four games, the forward has averaged 11 points and 5.3 rebounds, both top-3 statistics on the Aggie roster. Taylor also leads the team in field goal percentage as she has shot 21-36 or .583, from the floor. This play by the sophomore was highlighted when she was named to the Bank of Hawaii Classic All-Tournament Team.
 
THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Wednesday's contest will be the first time Aggies head coach Mark Trakh has faced off against his former school, Pepperdine, while here at NM State. Trakh had a highly successful 11-year tenure as head coach at Pepperdine from 1993-2004. Heading into the game, Coach Trakh reflected and said, "I had a great time at Pepperdine and really enjoyed my time there. I was very fortunate to work at such a prestigious school which gave me the opportunity to go on to other top-notch programs at USC and here at New Mexico State."
 
Under his direction, the Waves posted six consecutive 20-win seasons from 1997-2003, made six straight postseason appearances and claimed four West Coast Conference titles. Trakh was twice named the league's coach of the year in both 1999 and 2002, and ended his tenure with a 199-123 overall record and a 99-55 mark in the WCC. Coach Trakh holds the winningest record for all coaches in Pepperdine women's basketball history.
 
WHILE THEY WERE AWAY
NM State just returned from a two-game trip out in Honolulu, Hawaii in the Bank of Hawaii Classic. The Aggies won the first contest, 99-73, against Sacramento State. This game marked the first time, since 11/28/14 vs. Weber State, that the team totaled more than 90 points. The game saw six players score in double-digits. Against the Hornets, Jasmine Cooper (six rebounds), Tyesha Taylor (16 points) and Jeneva Toilolo (16 points) each set career-highs.
 
The following game was the championship round of the Bank of Hawaii Classic in which the Aggies squared off with tournament host, University of Hawai'i. The game was a tight contest from start to finish, as NM State fell 56-53. Two Aggies, Tyesha Taylor and Tamera William, were featured on the All-Tournament Team. 
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE WAVES
Heading in to Wednesday's match-up, Pepperdine sits at 0-3 overall, with losses to Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara and Nevada. As a team, the Wave averages 52.7 points, 43.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
 
Pepperdine has three players averaging double-digit points this season. Yasmine Robinson-Bacote, leads the team averaging 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds. Guard, Allie Green is close behind, averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds while freshman, Sydney Bordonaro averages 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.
 
The game on Wednesday will be the third meeting all-time between New Mexico State and Pepperdine, as the Wave hold a 2-0 series advantage. The two teams have not squared off since 1987-88, when Pepperdine prevailed, 77-73.
 
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
New Mexico Highlands, out of the Division-2 Rocky Mountain Conference, has started the season at 1-1. Over the two games, the Cowgirls have averaged 56.0 points, shooting .373 from the field, to go with 28.0 rebounds and 8.0 steals.
 
NMHU is led by forward, Kaylani Maiava, who averages 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. The forward also has totaled five blocks and five steals to start the year. Guard, Brianna Pribble has averaged 11.5 points and is a threat from deep as she is shooting .333 from three-point range.
The Aggies have met with NMHU five times and stay unbeaten, 5-0. The two teams last met in 2009-10 as the Aggies came out on top, 80-39, here in Las Cruces.
 
AFTER THE GAMES
Once the two games during the holiday week have concluded, NM State will stay at home to host New Mexico on Nov. 30, at 5:30 p.m. This will be the second contest of the year between the Aggies and the Lobos as UNM triumphed up in Albuquerque, 84-55, back on Nov. 15.