LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State women's basketball team returned to action in Las Cruces on Thursday following a two-game road trip in Utah. Behind an inspired performance by Taylor Donaldson (15 points, eight rebounds), the Aggies (13-13, 8-6 WAC) defeated the Seattle Redhawks (4-19, 4-9 WAC) 56-47.
 
Strong defense and points off the bench proved to be the difference makers in the game, as the Aggies held Seattle to 31% from the field and forcing 23 turnovers while outworking their bench for a 33-4 advantage.
 
FIRST HALF
Seattle controlled the opening tip, but Ashlee Strawbridge came up with a steal to stifle their possession. Molly Kaiser scored the first two Aggie baskets of the game on midrange elbow jumpers from both sides of the free throw line to give her four early points, and NM State a 4-2 lead. A pair of fastbreak layups for Shania Harper gave NM State a 10-8 advantage with 5:35 remaining in the quarter, with the Redhawks sticking around due to their frantic pace and a couple of timely three-point shots. The defensive intensity ratched up for the rest of the quarter, as both teams tried to establish dominance. The teams combined for just three field goals over the final four and a half minutes of action, with 11 total turnovers and 13 fouls called between both teams, and neither was unable to gain much separation. After one quarter, NM State held the lead 17-16.
 
The Redhawks opened the quarter with a three-pointer to neutralize the Aggie lead, giving them their own two-point advantage (19-17), but Moe Shida checked into the game and picked off a Seattle inbound, racing down the court and scoring a quick to points to tie it up again. The two teams continued to trade blows, with the Aggies falling behind five points with 7:26 remaining in the half. Hanging their hats on defense, NM State forced a quartet of turnovers and six missed shots to allow the Aggies to play themselves back into the game, turning a five-point deficit into a four-point lead (31-27). Held scoreless for almost six minutes, a pair of SU free throws put them back on the scoreboard, making it a 31-29 game with a minute and a half left in the second quarter. Taylor Donaldson was hungry for more and went on a mini-run of five points including a tough and-one bucket when she drove through the left side of the lane and fought through contact. When the halftime buzzer sounded, NM State held a 36-29 edge.
 
NM State outshot Seattle (44% to 32%), while owning the advantage in rebounds (18-15), steals (5-1), points in the paint (18-8) and bench points (25-2), while forcing 11 turnovers.
 
SECOND HALF
Seattle rattled in a triple to open the second half, but Donaldson scored the first five Aggie points of the half, picking up where she left off. An added paint jumper by Strawbridge extending the lead to double digits (43-32), NM State's largest of the night with 6:38 remaining. The Aggies kept up the defensive pressure but struggled getting their own shots to fall, scoring just three points the rest of the quarter. Seattle slowly worked their way back into it and made it a 47-42 game at the end of the period. The Crimson & White struggled to find the bottom of the net in the third, going just 3-11 (27%) from the field, but the defense kept up, forcing Seattle into twice as many turnovers (6) as made field goals (3).  
 
Opening the final frame, Ashlee Strawbridge caught the ball at the right elbow, executing a gorgeous bounce pass to a cutting Sylena Peterson for a reverse layup score, the only time the Aggies scored first in a quarter on the night. With points at a premium, every bucket mattered, any way you could get them. Soufia Innousa showed no fear driving to the rim for a tough contested layup, despite shooting 1-8 on the night prior to that. This score gave NM State a seven-point edge (51-44) with 6:53 left in the game. Molly Kaiser later pushed the Aggies lead to nine with 5:19 remaining in regulation after making a second chance layup for her third make of the ballgame giving her seven points on the night. Tayelin Grays later extended the Aggies lead to double-digits with a pair of made baskets on back-to-back possessions to help seal the deal as the Aggies put the Redhawks to bed, 56-47.
 
NOTES

• Taylor Donaldson secured a double-digit scoring night in the first half before finishing with 15 points; her ninth such scoring game of the season and second straight. She also added eight rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Moe Shida recorded season-highs in points (7), minutes (27), while setting a career-high in free throws made and attempted (5-6) and tied in steals (3).
• Molly Kaiser had a tame scoring performance, adding in seven points on three field goals while providing three rebounds, two steals and a game high plus/minus of +12.
• Shania Harper put up an efficient seven points and five rebounds in fifteen minutes of action off the bench before leaving the game with an injury.
• Seattle recorded 23 turnovers, the 23^rd time NM State has forced 15+ turnovers this season.
• NM State dominated points off the bench (33-4) and points in the paint (30-14).
• The Aggies shot 16-22 (73%) from the free throw line, the seventh time this season they've gone over 70%.
• NM State lead the game for 31:14, including the entire second half.

 
UP NEXT
The Aggies are back at home Saturday (Feb. 18) as they welcome California Baptist to the Pan American Center for the second game of this three game homestand. The last time the Aggies and Lancers met, it was the Aggies who pulled off the narrow one point victory (62-61) over the Lancers in Riverside, using a last second shot by Soufia Inoussa to secure the win.
 
After Saturdays bout, the Aggies will have one more home game remaining against UT Arlington for senior night before hitting the road for their final pair of games in Texas.