LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team, coming off a victory over UMKC, is set to play their second Western Athletic Conference game of the season.
NM State continues WAC play at the Pan American Center on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. MT, against the Chicago Cougars.
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GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Everyone's favorite post-game event is coming back to the Pan American Center! After Saturday afternoon's game, every fan in attendance is invited to come down to the court for post-game autographs with the Aggies. Each player will be available after the game to sign a shirt, baby or any item of your choosing for the best fans in the country! Posters will be available for fans to have signed, as well.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Saturday's contest sees Chicago State enter the Pan Am sitting at 0-15 and 0-1 in the WAC. The Cougars WAC opener saw the team fall to UTRGV by a score of 71-43.
CSU is led by sophomore guard Kaylee Allen who averages a team-leading 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Helping Allen at the perimeter is guard Jessica Cerda, putting up 8.3 points per game, including a team-leading 74 three-point attempts.
The Cougars currently average 52.4 points, with 32.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists. The team also allows 70.9 points, as their field goal defense allows a .448 field goal rate. NM State looks to get on top early as CSU has their most success in the first quarter putting up a high of 215 points this season.
NM State currently holds a 6-0 series lead over Chicago State, dating back to 2013. The last time these two teams faced off was back on Feb. 13, 2016, as the Aggies won, 76-63.
LEADING THE WAY
Along with being 1-0 in conference play, New Mexico State women's basketball also proves to be ahead of the competition as they rank in the top-three in 20 of the 21 recorded team statistical categories.
The team's play is featured by leading the conference in eight fields over 15 games, including scoring offense (68.7 PPG), scoring defense (60.2 PPG), scoring margin (+8.5), field goal percent defense (.372 FG pct.), three-point field goal percent defense (.263 3FG pct.), rebounding offense (40.1 RPG), turnover margin (+4.3) and defensive rebounds (25.9 per game).
FREEMAN NEARS THE 1,000 POINT THRESHOLD
Aggie senior forward
Brianna Freeman has 994 career points through 105 games (9.5 PPG) for NM State. The Killeen, Texas native will become the 21st player to join the exclusive 1,000 point club in program history. Freeman will join former teammate
Sasha Weber (2012-16, 1,511) among the ranks of Aggies to reach the plateau. Through 15 games this season, the forward has averaged 6.9 points and dropped a season-high 16 at New Mexico on Nov. 15.
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 team opened conference play at home on Thursday, Jan. 5, against UMKC. A close game, that came down to the end, saw the Aggies defeat the Roos, 78-72.
The victory saw NM State hit a season-high in made three-point field goals (14) and win the battle on the boards (37-31), which in turn helped the team lead in second chance points at the end of the game (24-12).
Scoring was led by
Moriah Mack, who put up a season-high 20 points, followed by
Brooke Salas with 17,
Gia Pack with 16 and
Zaire Williams with 12.
WHO'S UP NEXT?
After the match up with the Cougars, the Aggies will hit the road as they travel to take on WAC opponents Grand Canyon on Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. MT and then CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 14 at 1 p.m.
