SEATTLE – The New Mexico State women's basketball team faced off at the home of the Seattle University Redhawks on Saturday evening. Two nights after head coach Mark Trakh reached the century mark in total wins at NM State, Trakh then added win number 101 to his Aggie total with a 64-61 victory over Seattle U.
 
As the game opened with the Aggies winning the tip and knocking down the first basket, on a three from Zaire Williams, Seattle then went on a 7-0 run to put the team in a hole early. NM State was then able to battle back after the break and trade baskets with the Redhawks to close out the first quarter. Williams went 3-4 from downtown as the quarter closed with the score tied, 15-15.
 
After an opening quarter of zero fouls for the Aggies, the team came out and committed four in the first minute of the second quarter. The team then hit the bonus with over five minutes remaining in the half, as the defense had to play more conservative basketball.
 
The opponent had a tough time shooting closing the half out and the Aggies headed to the locker room ahead, 28-27. Scoring for the Aggies was led by Zaire Williams with 12 points and Moriah Mack with nine. Seattle U led in most statistical categories through two quarters, but the efficient shooting for the Aggies preserved their lead. NM State was 8-19 (42.1 FG%), in contrast to the Redhawks going 10-28 (35.7 FG%).
 
In the third quarter, Seattle U grabbed the lead early, going up 37-33. The Aggies then countered with a 13-2 run to give the Aggies a 46-39 lead, the largest of the game at that point. The third frame ended with NM State ahead of Seattle U, 50-44. After going 3-3 from deep, the Aggies had hit nine of their 14 field goals from downtown through 30 minutes.
 
The opponent closed in throughout the fourth quarter as each team traded baskets in very aggressive closing minutes of the game. Each team entered the bonus to close out as the Aggies only held a 60-59 lead in the final minute. Then, after the Redhawks forward missed both free throws, Gia Pack grabbed the rebound and hit both of her shots from the charity stripe with under 30 seconds left in the game. Seattle U tried to tie the game up, but time was on the Aggies side as the team held on for a 64-61 win.
 
After a hard-fought 40 minutes, the Aggies saw four players score in double digits. This was led by Zaire Williams who had a season-high 19 points, followed by Moriah Mack with 16, Tamera William had 12 and Gia Pack added 10.
 
The victory for NM State was the 14th straight for the team as they move to 21-6 overall and 13-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.
 
Next up for the team will be their regular season finale at 6 p.m. MT on March 4 as the team heads to Edinburg, Texas to take on the UTRGV Vaqueros.