LARAMIE, Wyo. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team took on Wyoming in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament on Thursday night at Arena-Auditorium. After being outscored by 10 in the first quarter, 21-11, the Aggies were only able to tie the game up in the fourth before falling in the postseason matchup, 67-59.
 
The arena being 7,220 feet above sea level, the highest elevated court in the country, may have played into the slow start for NM State (18-13) as Wyoming (22-10) opened the game on a 9-2 run. Despite going back-and-forth to close out the first quarter, the Aggies went 0-for-6 from downtown in comparison to the Cowgirls going 2-for-4. This held NM State behind 21-11 through 10 minutes of play.
 
NM State looked to swing the momentum in the second quarter and a 6-2 run to open saw the team climb back into the game. Following Tonishia Childress' second foul, Aaliyah Prince entered the game and became an immediate sparkplug off the bench.
 
Prince was able to help rejuvenate an Aggie offense that needed to close the half on run to keep the score close. The guard scored six of the final eight points for NM State as the team trailed by just five after two quarters, 35-30.
 
After 20 minutes, the Aggies scoring was led by Brooke Salas who dropped 16 points for the team, but on the other side the Cowgirls Liv Roberts was able to answer with 22 of her own.
 
Following baskets from Salas and Zaire Williams to open the third quarter, Gia Pack proceeded to take over the scoring for the Aggies, which kept them close. The Aggies trailed 46-38 with 4:55 remaining, but Pack scored 12 points before the frame was all said and done. This surge kept NM State within five, 53-48, heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Strong play off the bench continued for Prince to begin the fourth quarter. The San Antonio, Texas native knocked down the first basket of the quarter, followed by a triple to tie the game up at 53-53 with 6:44 left.
 
This tie did not last long, however, as Wyoming called a timeout and went on a 6-0 run following the stoppage. A basket from Williams was able to bring it back to a one possession game, 59-56, but that was the closest the score would get with the Aggies falling 67-59 at night's end.
 
Following the season finale, the Aggies were led in scoring by Salas with 21 and a team-high eight rebounds, followed by Pack with 20 points and Prince dropped 11.
 
The WNIT loss ends the Aggies season following an 18-13 campaign, which included a Western Athletic Conference record fourth-straight regular-season title.