LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team hits the road for the first time of 2018 when it heads to the northwest to take on Seattle U on Jan. 18 at the Connolly Complex. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. MT. The Aggies remain on the road for a match-up against WAC foe, Utah Valley, on Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. in Lockhart Arena.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
The pair of road games for the Aggies can each be streamed live. Thursday's matchup against Seattle U and Saturday's tilt versus Utah Valley can be seen on the WAC Digital Network.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Both games this week can also be followed with live stats on StatBroadcast: Seattle U and Utah Valley.
 
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.
 
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
For the first road game of 2018 NM State travels to the northwest to take on Seattle U. The Redhawks currently sit at 8-10 overall and 2-1 in WAC play. Seattle U is currently on a two-game win streak taking down Chicago State and UMKC last week.
 
As a team the Redhawks have been outscored 72.3 to 69.4 in 18 games this season, despite having the highest scoring offense in the Western Athletic Conference. Seattle U's best scoring quarter has been in the fourth and is the only quarter in which they have outscored opponents at 404-307.
 
Alexis Montgomery leads the charge for the Redhawks putting up 21.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, which each lead the WAC. SU also looks to Jacinta Beckley and Kamira Sanders who have put up 12.7 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.
 
LOOKING AT THE WOLVERINES
The trip to Orem, Utah pits NM State against WAC foe Utah Valley. Heading into Saturday's contest the Wolverines hole an 8-10 record and 2-1 mark in conference play. UVU most recently took down UMKC on Jan. 11 and UMKC on Jan. 13.
 
The Wolverines have dominated on the defensive end with 182 steals (10.1 per game) to lead the WAC. Utah Valley also leads the conference in turnover margin (+4.28). UVU also sits second in the WAC in free throw percentage (.748).
 
Utah Valley is led on the court by Taylor Christensen who averages a team-high 16.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, to go along with a team-leading 52 steals. The Wolverines also turn to Mariah Seals who has put up 12.5 points per game and is on the court for a team-high 34.9 minutes through 18 contests.
 
LEADER OF THE WAC
After taking down CSU Bakersfield, 56-48, on Saturday afternoon the Aggies moved into first place in the WAC standings and remaining the only undefeated team in conference play.
 
The team also sits in first within the conference in field goal percentage (.422) and blocked shots (83). There are also individual leaders for the Aggies with Zaire Williams leading in assists (85) and Brooke Salas sitting in first for blocked shots (34).
 
LAST TIME OUT
NM State recently took down the only other undefeated team in WAC play, CSU Bakersfield, and moved into sole possession of first place in the conference. After a tough first half, the Aggie defense held the Roadrunners to just 16 points in the final two quarters to walk away with an eight-point victory, 56-48.
 
A pair of Aggies scored in double-digits led by Salas who put up 18 and Childress who added 11. Point guard Zaire Williams led the team and tied Alize' Lofton of the Runners with a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Despite struggling in the paint early, NM State responded and outscored CSU Bakersfield 12-8 in the second half. The Aggies also shot 50 percent from the field in the fourth quarter (5-for-10) and held Bakersfield to just 21.4 percent (3-for-14) to seal the victory.
 
UP NEXT
Following the pair of road contests the Aggies return home to the Pan American Center on Jan. 27 for a noon match-up against UMKC.