LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team played host to Western Athletic Conference foe Seattle University on Sunday afternoon in the Pan American Center. For the second straight game Gia Pack recorded a double-double and the Aggies used an early third quarter run to build a lead that could not be overcome as they took down the Redhawks 64-53.
 
After the win split the regular-season series with the Redhawks head coach Brooke Atkinson commented, "The kids were really locked in and I think over the years in the WAC that Seattle has been one of their tougher opponents. They got the best of us up there this year but that's the benefit of a home-and-home because they were really ready to go for this game."
 
After winning the opening tip NM State (14-11, 8-3 WAC) built and early 9-2 lead over Seattle U (13-13, 7-4 WAC). Then leading by just four, 11-7, at the media timeout with 3:55 remaining the Aggies continued to knock down shots which culminated with a three from Pack to give the team a 17-12 edge through one quarter.
 
The second quarter opened in favor of the Redhawks who scored the first two baskets before Brooke Salas answered with one of her own. Seattle U continued to close in on the Aggies lead and then Redhawk forward Jacinta Beckley buried a three-pointer to tie the game up, 23-23, before a stoppage in play with 3:48 left in the first half.
 
Following the timeout, Seattle U hit a jumper to regain the lead, but NM State responded with four of the final six baskets of the second quarter to end the half ahead 32-28. Through 20 minutes of play, Salas led the Aggies with 12 points and five rebounds, followed by Jasmine Cooper who scored eight and Pack added seven.
 
The third quarter saw a large shift in momentum for the Aggies. After trading a pair of baskets with the Redhawks, NM State went on an 11-0 run to expand the lead to 47-32. This forced Seattle U to call a timeout at the 5:21 mark. The call helped the Redhawks close in slightly, but the Aggies still held a double-digit lead, 49-38, heading into the fourth.
 
NM State came out in the fourth quarter looking to silence any hope of a comeback from the opposition. Despite not scoring for 2:41 early, stout defense for the Aggies kept the Redhawk offense just as quiet. The 11-point lead they entered with in the final frame hung tight and NM State took down Seattle U 64-53.
 
Pack led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Salas with 18 points and Cooper added 10. Despite being outrebounded 48-41, the Aggies still produced in the paint outscoring the Redhawks 32-20. NM State also forced 20 turnovers and scored 18 points off those opportunities.
 
New Mexico State now gets ready to hit the road for a pair of WAC games. The contests open up at Chicago State on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. MT, followed by a clash with UMKC on Feb. 24 at noon.