BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. – On Saturday afternoon, New Mexico State Aggies women's basketball squared off with conference foe CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif. A close game from start to finish saw NM State move to 4-0 in WAC play as they defeated the Roadrunners, 64-55.
 
The first quarter of the game opened as the Roadrunners won the opening tip and the first 10 minutes of the game featured back and forth play. Each team traded baskets, but the Roadrunners got into foul trouble early and had to rely on their bench to end a 6-0 run by the Aggies. After Moriah Mack ended scoring for the Aggies with a three-pointer, the first quarter came to a close as NM State led Bakersfield, 13-11.
 
As the second quarter opened, the Aggies buttoned down defensively and scored the only basket, to go along with two free throws over the first five minutes, to lead 18-11. As each team entered the bonus, the scoring began to open up and the first half ended with NM State ahead of CSU Bakersfield, 25-20.
 
Heading to the locker rooms, Moriah Mack led Aggie scoring with seven points as Brianna Freeman and Zaire Williams each put up five. The Aggies only hit one field goal in the second quarter, but went nine for 12 from the line, allowing the team to hold the lead.
 
The third quarter of the game saw NM State make most of their points from downtown as four of the team's six field goals were from three-point range. The hot shooting put the Aggies ahead 42-29, the team's largest lead of the game, but the opposition closed the quarter with a 9-2 run to bring the score closer as NM State was ahead 44-38 after three quarters.
 
New Mexico State squashed the oppositions hope of a comeback in the final quarter as the team made important baskets and rebounded well to close out and Bakersfield's top player, Erika Williams (12.2 PPG), fouled out with over four minutes remaining. The Aggies played solid team basketball to finish with a 64-55 victory over the Roadrunners.  
 
After the game, three Aggies finished with double-figures as Gia Pack led the way with 14 points and nine rebounds and Moriah Mack also put up 14 to go with four assists, while Brooke Salas had 10. As a team, NM State forced more turnovers than the opponent (25-18) which featured 13 steals and three blocks and turned into 20 points for the Aggies.
 
The win is the fifth straight victory for the Aggies as the team moves to 12-6 on the year and 4-0 in WAC play. NM State's next game will take place on Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. MT, as the team faces off against UMKC for the second time this season after winning the first bout, 78-72, in the Pan American Center.