LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team continues Western Athletic Conference action on Jan. 11 when it hosts the Lopes of Grand Canyon in the Pan American Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. MT. The Aggies then remain at home for a match-up against CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.  
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans who can't make it to the games this week can watch both of them on AggieVision with Adam Young on the play-by-play and Patrick Knapp serving as the analyst. Each of the games can also be watched live on FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports Southwest or FOX College Sports Pacific.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
The Aggies games against Grand Canyon and CSU Bakersfield can also be followed with live stats on StatBroadcast.
 
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's contest against the Lopes will feature every fans favorite event with post-game autographs following the final buzzer. Saturday's matchup against the Roadrunners is set to feature the Pistoleros at halftime.
 
SCOUTING THE LOPES
Grand Canyon enters the Pan Am on Thursday night holding the same record as the Aggies at 7-8 overall and 1-0 in WAC play. The Lopes are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently taking down Seattle U at home 74-63.
 
GCU averages 64.1 points per game and has four players averaging double-digits. Brie Mobley leads the team with 19.2 points per game and 8.2 rebounds. Jessica Gajewski has added 13.3 per contest. August Touchard has averaged 10.6 per game to go along with a team-leading 26 steals. Jordan Jackson has put up 10.4 per game and has a team-high .418 clip from three-point range.
 
The Lopes best play has come in the fourth quarter with the team putting up 254 points in contrast to allowing just 234 through 15 games this season.
 
Grand Canyon's defense has forced an average of 14.8 turnovers per game and has held opponents to a .290 clip from downtown.
 
LOOKING AT THE ROADRUNNERS
Saturday's contest against CSU Bakersfield pits the Aggies against a Roadrunner squad who currently sits at 7-8 overall and 1-0 in WAC play. Bakersfield just ended a two-game losing skid when they took down Utah Valley 63-58 on Jan. 6.
 
Aja Williams has been the best scorer for the Roadrunners averaging 12.5 per game. Jazmyne Bartee leads the team on the boards with 6.6 rebounds per game and has a team-high 26 blocks.
 
The Bakersfield defense currently leads the WAC in scoring defense allowing just 56.1 points per game and also leads the conference in field goal percentage defense allowing opponents to shoot just .370 from the field.
 
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER TOP PERFORMANCE
The Western Athletic Conference announced the players of the week on Monday, Jan. 8. A historic night in the WAC opener saw NM State guard Brooke Salas earn the nod to open 2018.
 
The Placentia, Calif. native led the Aggies to a 74-59 victory over Chicago State to begin conference play. The strong play featured Salas scoring 23 of the Aggies 28 points over eight minutes of play, including knocking down a jumper to close out the third quarter and give NM State the lead. This buzzer-beating shot also made her the 23rd Aggie in program history to join the 1,000 point club.
 
After 39 minutes played for the Aggies, Salas recorded a double-double with a career-high 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds. The junior was also disruptive on the defensive end forcing five steals and adding three blocks.
 
Through 15 games this season, the guard leads the WAC in blocks (26), ranks second in scoring (19.1) and is fourth in rebounding (103).
 
SALAS JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB
Trailing Chicago State 49-48 in the closing seconds of the third quarter, NM State guard Brooke Salas knocked down a jumper to beat the buzzer. This basket not only gave the Aggies the lead but it also made Salas the 23^rd player in program history to join the 1,000 point club. The junior guard joins a pair of former teammates – Brianna Freeman and Moriah Mack – who became a part of the elite club in 2017.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The New Mexico State women's basketball team opened Western Athletic Conference play against Chicago State on Saturday, Jan. 6, in the Pan American Center. Despite trailing after 20 minutes, the Aggies came out and dominated in the second half, led by Brooke Salas, en route to a 74-59 victory over the Cougars.
 
Following the victory to open WAC play, Salas led the way on a historic night for the guard as she recorded a double-double with a career-high 33 points and 13 rebounds. A pair of Aggies also finished the night in double-digits as Pack scored 12 and M. Mills added 10.
 
As a team, the Aggies dominated down low outscoring the Cougars 34-16 in the paint while also outrebounding Chicago State, 38-34 which included 18 offensive boards.
 
UP NEXT
New Mexico State hits the road for the first time in 2018 for a pair of tough Western Athletic Conference contests. First up the team heads to take on Seattle U. on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. MT. The Aggies then get set to take on the Wolverines of Utah Valley at 3 p.m. on Jan. 20.