LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After nine straight games with final results in the single digits, the NM State Aggies (5-7, 0-0 WAC) were able to soundly put away the Northern New Mexico Eagles (3-13, 0-0 CAC – NAIA) 90-42 on Tuesday afternoon in Las Cruces.
 
The Aggies scored 90 points in the game – the highest scoring total of the season – shooting an efficient 53.9% clip from the field, while only connecting on three triples. True freshman Lucia Yenes led all scorers with a career high 19 points on 9-14 shooting (64.3%). Tayelin Grays came four points shy of a career high after she put up 14 in the win. Despite the abundance of offence by the Aggies, it was their defense that stood out. NM State forced a season high 27 turnovers and 17 steals against the Eagles – 11 of the 13 Aggies who saw action also recorded a steal in the game.  
 
Northern New Mexico won the opening tip, with Salazar able to slip through the defense and convert the bucket to open the scoring on the afternoon. After that first score, the Aggies went on a 17-3 run over the next six minutes to make it a 12-point NM State lead. Seven different players added points during the run. The Eagles managed to claw their way back into the game and make it a seven point game (21-14) with 1:22 left in the quarter, but four straight layups by Peterson, Adams, Donaldson and Yenes gave NM state a 15-point cushion heading into the second frame.
 
Up 35-19, Soufia Inoussa went on a solo scoring run of seven points, attacking at all levels (layup, jumper, 3 pointer). This run would be the spark that ignited a 20-3 run by the Aggies to close out the first half. Lucia Yenes consistently got to her spot in the first half, powering herself to the first double-digit game of her career, coming up with 11 points in the first twenty minutes of action. Fama Thiam also had herself a nice first half. The senior forward out of Senegal had seven points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal at the break. NM State led 55-22 at halftime, their most points scored in any half since December 28^th, 2021 in a home win over SAGU American Indian College (110-40).
 
Steady diet of Aggies coming in and out of the game all afternoon, with all 12 active players reaching the court in just the first quarter. All 12 players had eclipsed 5 minutes or more by halftime. Northern New Mexico was shorthanded this afternoon, only seven players available throughout the contest, missing three players, including one of their top scorers Paulina Lopez-Cervantes. Briana Marquez was the only Eagle to reach double figure scoring this afternoon. She rallied for 16 points on 6-14 shooting, including two made threes.
 
The second half did not feature as many points as the first half did, however, it was much of the same as the first. The Aggies shooting percentage dropped from 65.8% in the first half to 53.9% at the end of regulation. The Eagles shooting percentage only dropped by half a percentage after connecting on one more shot (9) in the second half than they did in the first half (8).
 
After being forced to miss most of the first half due to foul trouble, Molly Kaiser came out of the lock room and added seven points bringing her total to 11, including one made three – just her third made triple of the season and tenth of her career. She also collected three rebounds, three assists and three steals to cap off her day. At the end of it all, the Aggies easily walked out of the Pan Am with a 90-42 victory bringing their winning streak to two games, and their overall win total to five as they get set to begin conference play right before the new year begins.   
 
 
Notes

• Lucia Yenes recorded the first double-digit game of her young career, finishing with 19 points and a new career high.
• The Aggies 90 points is their most scored this season
• NM State forced 27 turnovers, their most since a bout against Chicago State since March 5^th, 2021.
• The team also enticed 17 steals, the most since November 28, 2020 when the Aggies also swiped 17 steals against Park Gilbert in a 92-38 victory in Las Cruces.
• In addition to Points, turnovers and steals, the Aggies also set season highs in field goals made (41), field goals attempted (76), rebounds (46), assists (25) and blocked shots (5).
• Sylena Peterson returned to action for the first time since December 11^th, finishing with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 20 minutes
• Las Cruces native Janessa Johnson made her first appearance since a February 26^th matchup against Chicago State.
• The Crimson & White forced 23 turnovers, their most of the season.
• Taeylin Grays recorder her first double-digit scoring output of the season as well as making her first three pointer on the year.
• Molly Kaiser recorded her sixth double-digit scoring performance in the last seven games averaging 12.6 points a game over that stretch.

 

Next Up
NM State will have a week off for the holidays before returning to the court for the start of conference play Dec. 29 at UTRGV. The Aggies will return to the Pan Am two days later when they are slated to take on Southern Utah for the first game of a New Year's Eve double header between NM State WBB and NM State MBB.