LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team (13-6, 5-0) is looking to stay unbeaten in WAC play as they host two conference opponents this week.
 
On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m. MT, the Seattle U. Redhawks (7-12, 4-0) enters the Pan American Center for the first time this season. Two days later on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2:00 p.m., Utah Valley (6-13, 1-3) will close out the Aggies two-game home stand.
 
WHERE TO CATCH THE ACTION
Jan. 26 vs. Seattle U.-
Watch Live: Altitude Sports 2 and ESPN3
Replay: Friday at 12:30 a.m. on FOX Sports Arizona/11 p.m. on Altitude Sports
Live Stats
Jan. 28 vs. Utah Valley-
Watch Live: Altitude Sports and ESPN3
Replay: Sunday at 2 a.m. on FOX Sports Arizona/10 a.m. on FOX College Sports Pacific
Live Stats
 
GET CONNECTED
To stay connected with the women's basketball team and catch all of the up-to-date information and breaking news, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, @NMStateWBB.
 
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Thursday night's game versus Seattle U. will feature a t-shirt giveaway. The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a New Mexico State t-shirt to support the team.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE REDHAWKS
Heading into Thursday night's showdown, the Seattle U. Redhawks sit at 7-12 overall and 4-0 in Western Athletic Conference play. The opponent's latest game saw them defeat GCU, 86-60, the team's largest point total since Jan. 25, 2014 when they scored 89 points in a win over GCU.
 
Seattle U. is led by senior Alexis Montgomery who averages a team-best 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Another player averaging double-digit points for the Redhawks is senior Kaylee Best, putting up 13.3 points per game and a team-leading 44 made three-point field goals.
 
As a team, Seattle U. averages 62.1 points per game, while allowing 65.9. The Redhawks also average 36.5 rebounds and forces 16.9 turnovers. The opposition is best in the first and fourth quarter as they outscore opponents 317-303 in the first ten minutes and 324-322 in the final quarter of play.
 
Thursday night's contest will be the 11th meeting between the Aggies and the Redhawks as NM State currently holds the series lead, 6-4. The last time the team's squared off, the Aggies walked away with a 66-56 road victory on Feb. 20, 2016.
 
CLASH OF THE TITANS
The match up with Seattle U. will pit the two remaining undefeated teams in WAC play against each other. NM State (13-6, 5-0) and Seattle U. (7-12, 4-0) each remain unbeaten in 2017, as the winner of Thursday night's contest will take sole possession of the number one spot in the conference standings.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
The game on Saturday will see the Utah Valley Wolverines enter the Pan Am as they sit at 6-13 overall and 1-3 in WAC play. The Wolverines dropped their last two conference games, with the latest seeing the team fall at home to CSU Bakersfield, 63-59 in overtime.
 
Utah Valley has three starters on their roster currently averaging double-digits in scoring, with Taylor Gordon (15.5 PPG), Mariah Seals (13.4 PPG) and Sam Lubcke (11.7 PPG). Lubcke (WAC Player of the Week on Dec. 12) also leads the team in rebounds as she has corralled 8.2 per game.
 
Utah Valley's team as a whole has put up 60.9 points a game and allowed 66.1. These numbers have put the team in holes early, as their only quarter in which they have outscored opponents this season is in the fourth (330-320). Defensively, the Wolverines have an advantage as they have topped opponents in total steals (182-166).
 
Saturday's matinee will be the 10th time NM State has played UVU, as the Aggies hold a 7-2 series lead all-time. The two teams last faced off in the WAC Tournament on March 11, 2016, as NM State defeated Utah Valley, 58-44.
 
COME ONE, COME ALL
The New Mexico State women's basketball program will be hosting a kid's clinic on January 28th before the team's match up with conference foe, Utah Valley. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. and the clinic starts at noon.
 
Participants have the opportunity to learn from the New Mexico State coaching staff and selected players, and stay after for the Aggies game versus conference opponent Utah Valley, which will begin directly after the clinic concludes. Attendees will also be able to join the women's basketball team on the court as the NM State starting lineup is announced.
 
Children between ages 5-13, currently in middle school or elementary school are encouraged to register. If interested, a registration form for the clinic can be found here: NM State Women's Basketball Kid's Clinic.
 
If you have any questions or concerns, please call DJ Downs, Assistant A.D. of Marketing & Promotions, at 575-646-5348 or send an e-mail to ddowns@nmsu.edu.
 
WHEN YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
New Mexico State's associate head coach Jason Glover previously served as associate head coach at Utah Valley from 2013-16. Upon joining the Wolverines in 2013, Glover was able to double the amount of wins the team had from his first year to his third year. UVU went 8-23 his first season (2013-14) and finished 16-15 this past season (2015-16).
 
Glover was been able to develop all-conference players for Utah Valley, as well. In his three seasons with the Wolverines, Glover coached Mariah Seals to a Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honor in 2014-15, a first teamer in Sam Loggins (2015-16), two second teamers in Rhaiah Spooner-Knight (2014-15) and Seals (15-16) and three all-newcomers.
 
MACK LOOKS TO JOIN AN ELITE RANK
Aggie senior guard Moriah has 964 career points through 103 games for NM State. The San Antonio, Texas native will become the 22nd player to join the exclusive 1,000 point club in program history. Mack will join current Aggie forward Brianna Freeman (2013-Pres., 1,026 points) and former teammate Sasha Weber (2012-16, 1,511 points) among the ranks of Aggies to reach the plateau. Through 19 games this season, Mack has averaged 12.0 points and dropped a season-high 20 versus UMKC on Jan. 5.
 
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR(S)
The month of January has seen the best run for the Aggies as the team sits at a comfortable 20-0, dating back to the 2014-15 season. The team began the streak on Jan. 4, 2015 with a 81-39 victory over Northern New Mexico. The Aggies proceeded to go 7-0 that month, which was followed up by an 8-0 record in January of 2016. NM State currently sits at 5-0 this month and looks to keep the streak alive against Seattle U. The last loss in the month of January for the team came on Jan. 30, 2014, in a 86-63 loss at CSU Bakersfield.
 
THE LEADER OF THE WAC
NM State has dominated in WAC competition as the team is 35-2 in their last 36 meetings, including tournament play, as well as 5-0 in conference play this season. New Mexico State women's basketball also proves to be ahead of the WAC competition as they rank in the top-three in 19 of the 21 recorded team statistical categories.
 
The team's play is featured by leading the conference in seven fields over 19 games, including scoring offense (70.3 PPG), scoring defense (59.4 PPG), scoring margin (+10.8), field goal percentage (.423 FG pct.), three-point field goal defense (.270 3FG pct.), turnover margin (+4.4) and defensive rebounds (25.4 per game).
 
CHANGING THINGS UP
NM State's game against conference rival Grand Canyon University was previously scheduled for tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. MT. That game has been rescheduled and will now be played on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. MT.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE AGGIES
The latest game for NM State saw the team have an impressive road victory over UMKC. The team walked away with a 60-43 win, as the squad shot 51.0 percent from the field and held the previous WAC leader to only 31.0 percent.
 
WHO'S UP NEXT?
After the two-game home stand, NM State will travel to Chicago, Ill. to take on Chicago State at 1 p.m. MT. This will be the second time the Aggies take on the Cougars as the first meeting on Jan. 7 saw the squad put up a season-high in points after a 100-63 victory.