LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A rematch of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament title between New Mexico State and UT Rio Grande is scheduled for 2 p.m. (MT) on Saturday, March 12, at Orleans Arena.
 
The championship game will be broadcast on ESPNU with Dave Flemming and Gail Goestenkors calling the game. Fans can also watch the game on ESPN3 or listen to Adam Young on AM 570 The Ticket for Aggie fans in the Land of Enchantment.
 
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP LINKS: ESPN3 |ESPNU | Live Stats | Audio (AM 570 The Ticket)
 
LOOKING FOR REDEMPTION
After a dominating 58-44 win over fourth-seeded Utah Valley on Friday at the Orleans Arena, the NM State women's basketball team looks for redemption on Saturday when they square off against UT Rio Grande Valley in the WAC Tournament title match.
 
Saturday's game will be a repeat of last year's tournament title match, a game that went in NM State's favor – 70-52.
 
The Aggies will have extra motivation when the two teams square off as well since UTRGV spoiled NM State's chance at an undefeated conference season when they beat the Aggies 66-55 on their home floor.
 
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME
The No. 2-seed, UT Rio Grande Valley, advanced to the championship game of the WAC Tournament after outlasting No. 3-seed CSU Bakersfield, 73-72, in double-overtime. The Vaqueros were led by reigning WAC Player of the Year Shawnte' Goff with 24 points on 9-of-25 shooting. The only other player in double-figures for UTRGV was Hildur Kjartansdottir, who finished with 10 points on 16 boards.
 
Goff continues to pace the Vaqueros with 15.9 points per game while also dishing the ball out a team-best 99 times. The 5-8 junior also averages 4.2 boards to go with her .331 shooting clip.
 
Anushka Maldonado, who took over for the injured Mary Savoy, is averaging 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds for UTRGV while Kjartansdottir and Rickell Preston are averaging 8.6 points. Kjartansdottir is averaging a team-best 7.5 rebounds while Preston checks in with 6.6 per game, good for second on the team.
 
Preston sports a team-high 57 steals while Goff is second on the squad with 52. In the assist category, Preston is second behind Goff with 78.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams squared off, UT Rio Grande Valley got the best of NM State, beating the Aggies, 66-55, on their home floor for senior day. Hildur Kjartansdottir had a career-high 17 points on 15 rebounds that day, earning her the WAC Player of the Week honor heading into the WAC Tournament. The Vaqueros were led in scoring by Shawntee Goff, who 20 points on 6-of-16 shooting – including a 4-of-8 shooting effort from 3-point range.
 
Shanice Davis paced the Aggies in the loss with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting while Moriah Mack and Sasha Weber each added 12 points.
 
The Aggies brought it within two points on two separate occasions down the stretch in the fourth quarter, but weren't able to get over the hump as UTRGV pulled away with nine-straight points to close out the game.
 
TRAKH AT THE TOURNAMENT
Head coach Mark Trakh is 23-16 all-time in conference tournaments during his career and 5-3 during his time at NM State, including Friday afternoon's win. The Aggies went 2-0 last season, 1-1 the two years prior to that and 0-1 in his first year at New Mexico State.
 
DYNAMIC DUO
Senior Shanice Davis and junior Moriah Mack have elevated themselves the last five games for New Mexico State. In the last five games for NM State, Mack is averaging 15 points and 6.2 rebounds to go with 15 assists and 10 steals. In the same stretch, Davis is averaging 14.6 points and 5.0 rebounds to go with her 18 dimes and seven steals.