Opening Tip
• NM State women's basketball (12-13, 7-6 WAC) returns to the friendly confines of the Pan American center Thursday at 6 p.m. as they host Seattle U. This begins a three-game homestand to close out the Aggies home schedule, culminating with Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 23^rd, against UT Arlington. 
• The team is coming off a loss to Utah Tech, 90-57, that saw the Trailblazers shoot 60% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
• Seattle U is 3-2 since the last time the two teams faced off, most recently dropping a home match against UT Arlington, 75-49.
• NM State emerged victorious in their last matchup, taking a 58-50 decision from the Redhawk Center. Molly Kaiser led the way with 17 points, while five other Aggies scored at least six points.
• The Aggies are 17-9 all-time against the Redhawks, going 7-3 in their last ten contests.
 
Last Time Out
• NM State dropped their third straight game to Utah Tech after the Trailblazers put up 90 points on the Aggies (90-57).
• With the loss, NM State moved to 7-6 in conference and 12-13 overall.
• The Aggies trailed for the duration of the game.
• The team outscored Seattle U in second chance points, 14-0.
• NM State also had 18 points of turnovers compared to Utah Tech's 11.
• The bench produced 29 points for the Aggies.
• The Aggies struggled from the field all night, finishing with a slash line of 31/15/50% from the field.
• Molly Kaiser and Ashlee Strawbridge led the team in scoring with 11 points.
• Taylor Donaldson finished with 10 points and five rebounds to round out the double-digit scorers and lead the team in rebounds.
• Moe Shida scored her fourth career three-pointer, and second against Utah Tech this season. 
• Sianny Sanchez-Oliver recorded her first collegiate basket, a three-pointer with 1:52 left to go in the fourth quarter.
 
 
Defense. Defense. Defense
• NM State is allowing just 60.6 points a game this season to opponents, the second-best scoring defense in the WAC this season.
• The Aggies possess one of the best turnover margins in the country, tallying the 26th best turnover margin nationally (+4.6) and best margin in the WAC. As a team, NM State forces 19.2 turnovers a contest, which is 39rd best in the nation and third best in the WAC.
• Additionally, NM State ranks 34th in the nation in steals per game (10.0) and third in the WAC.
 
The Sum of Our Parts
• Coach Jody Adams' squad this season is built on balance, with a deep rotation and scoring from all over the court. Eight different players are averaging 10+ minutes for the team this season, while seven average at least 5.0 points a contest.
• Soufia Inoussa leads the team in minutes averaging 30.3 per game this season. The other seven players averaging double digit minutes include Taylor Donaldson (29.0), Molly Kaiser (27.8), Sylena Peterson (22.9), Tayelin Grays (22.4), Ashlee Strawbridge (21.2), Shania Harper (16.7). and Sabou Gueye (10.1).
• Molly Kaiser paces the team on the scoring front, managing 11.6 points a game, with that average bumping up to 12.3 in conference play. In total, six players are averaging six or more points a contest since the start of conference play: Kaiser (12.3), Tayelin Grays (9.2), Sylena Peterson (8.8),Shania Harper (7.4), Soufia Inoussa (7.2), and Taylor Donaldson (6.5).
 
Changing the Landscape
• In her first season as Head Coach, Jody Adams has jumpstarted the Aggies to their best record in conference play (7-6) since the 2018-2019 season when the team finished the year 15-1 in WAC play.
• After the season got out to a slow 3-7 start, the Aggies have shifted their narrative winning nine of the next 16 games played, including five wins on the road.
• Last season, the Aggies went 0-12 on the road overall and have improved to six road wins this season, including a 4-2 record against WAC competition. This marks the most road victories since the 18-19 season (11-5 road record).
• With 12 wins on the year, Adams has surpassed the Aggies win total from last season (10), with six contests still left to be played.
 
Scouting the Redhawks
• Seattle U (8-14, 4-8 WAC) sits tenth in the WAC conference standings, 2.5 games behind the Aggies.
• As of now, the Trailblazer sit twelfth in the WAC resume seeding system with -7.63 points.
• Peyton Howard (10.0) and Taliyah Clarke (10.0) lead the scoring front for the Redhawks. Kari Kyrkjebo leads the team in rebounds (4.1) and Mya Moore leads the team in blocks (18).
• As a team, Utah Tech is scoring just 58.9 points an outing, which is second worst in the WAC this year. They also allow over 70 points a game, which is third worst in the conference.
• The Trailblazers shoot well from three-point range, connecting on 30.3% of their shots as a team, the fifth-best percentage in the conference.
 
Up Next
• The Aggies will return to the Pan Am on Saturday for the second game in their three-game home stay. NM State will welcome California Baptist at 4 p.m. on Saturday, before concluding the home season with a Senior Night contest against UT Arlington on Thursday, Feb. 23^rd at 6 p.m.