TUCSON, Ariz. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team took on Arizona at the McKale Center on Thursday afternoon. Despite a 20 point effort from Brooke Salas, the Aggies fell to the Wildcats 83-44.
How It Happened
NM State (3-6) fell behind 7-2 to the Wildcats (3-6) to start the contest with Salas scoring New Mexico State's lone basket. The Aggies looked to cut into Arizona's lead, but at the media timeout, the team remained behind by five. Offensive woes plagued New Mexico State following the timeout and at the end of the period, the Aggies trailed 17-8 with Salas posting six of the NM State's points.
Salas continued to come up big for the Aggies, scoring the first four baskets for the squad in the second quarter. A pair of threes by Monique Mills kept the offense alive and cut the Wildcats lead to nine but Arizona continued to dominate offensively and countered the baskets with a 12-1 run to end the half.
Heading into the locker room behind 43-23, Salas led the Aggies with 14 points while Mills followed closely behind with seven. Gia Pack and Mills tallied three rebounds each to lead the NM State squad.
New Mexico State continued to struggle in the second half, as the team gave up an early 9-0 run. Mills snapped the streak with a layup at the 5:08 mark for the NM State's first basket of the quarter. Following the score, the Aggies battled back-and-forth with the Wildcats, but the team remained behind 65-33 heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, a three-pointer and a pair of free throws for Pack gave the sophomore five of the Aggies first six points. Aaliyah Prince and Baylee Robinson made shots from the field down the stretch but the deficit was too much for the team to overcome as NM State was defeated 83-44.
By the Numbers
New Mexico State's bench was outscored 33-6 and the Aggies trailed 44-22 in points in the paint. Salas led all NM State players with 20 points. Mills scored nine for the New Mexico State, followed by Pack who tallied five.
The Aggies travel to the Golden State for their next game as NM State takes on Pepperdine on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. MT.
