LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team closed out 2017 with a game against Western New Mexico on Sunday in the Pan American Center. The Aggies opened up with an early run and did not look back as the team never trailed and took down the Mustangs, 89-60.
 
Following the victory head coach Brooke Atkinson said, "I wanted the team to come in with great speed and tenacity today and I think they did that. The great team play allowed us to rest some starters and get a lot of minutes from our bench."
 
NM State (6-8) came out flying with an early 16-2 run before the first timeout at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter. Western New Mexico (0-13) was able to keep play fairly even to close out the opening quarter and through 10 minutes; the Aggies led 26-13.
 
The second quarter was much of the same with NM State coming out on a 12-0 run to expand the lead. After the timeout, Aaliyah Prince came in with three quick buckets, including two from beyond the arc, and Baylee Robinson added a pair of baskets to give the Aggies a 55-25 lead at half.
 
Through two quarters, Gia Pack who had nine points, followed by Brooke Salas and Prince with eight apiece to lead the team. The Aggies also dominated on the boards with 21 rebounds to just 10 for WNMU.
 
Western New Mexico was able to come out of the locker room and change the tempo of the game with their best scoring quarter of the game in the third. The strong play from the opposition was not enough to slow down the Aggies, however, as they outscored the Mustangs 24-19 in the third quarter.
 
Despite WNMU recording the last three baskets of the third, NM State still held a 79-44 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
The Aggies got a lot of action off the bench in the fourth quarter and the team was able to fend off any thought of a late comeback from the Mustangs.  When the clock read zero, NM State walked away with a dominant 89-60 win over WNMU.
 
At the end of the game, NM State was led by Aaliyah Prince who put up a career-high 16 points, followed behind by Pack and Salas who each scored 11. Salas also led the Aggies with 11 boards.  
 
Strong play down low from NM State saw them outscore WNMU 46-28 in the paint. The Aggies also saw all 14 players finish with at least two points and the Aggie bench outscored the Mustangs 50-9.
 
New Mexico State now gets set to begin Western Athletic Conference play when the team welcomes Chicago State to the Pan Am on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. MT.