LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Last week, NM State hit the road and suffered pair of overtime losses just 43 hours apart. The Aggies are returning to the Pan American Center this weekend in what will be their final two home contests of the 2023-24 regular season. Before hosting Jax State for a crucial Senior Day Saturday showdown, the Liberty Lady Flames will roll into town on Thursday. NM State is eyeing an upset, as Liberty (13-14, 8-4) has won seven of eight and are in position to potentially take the conference's No. 2 seed. The Aggies (11-15, 5-8) will attempt to win its sixth CUSA home game in seven tries in a rematch from exactly four weeks prior. 
 
How to Follow
Who: Liberty (13-14, 8-4 CUSA) at NM State (11-15, 5-8 CUSA) 
Where: Pan American Center – Las Cruces, NM
When: Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM MT
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
All-Time Series Record: Liberty leads 1-0
Last Meeting: NM State 53 @ Liberty 69 (Feb. 1, 2024)
 
Where the Aggies Stand
The road was not kind to NM State a week ago as they fell in overtime on two occasions. The Aggies first took on Sam Houston in The Lone Star State, where they missed 40 shots, allowed 45 Bearkat rebounds and committed 23 personal fouls. Despite their sloppy play, the Aggies found themselves with another chance at redemption after a late Jaila Harding 3-pointer sent the game to overtime. However, in the extra period, all eight field goal attempts missed the mark. Fanta Gassama scored the only points at the free-throw line in what was a 12-2 win for the home team in the five-minute frame. 
 
On Saturday, the shooting was the best of the season, but the story remained similar. On most days, 54.9% shooting (28-51) is sufficient to win a basketball game. However, 24 personal fouls led to an opponent season-high of 28 free throws for the home team; 22 of which were converted by the Lady Techsters. A frantic fourth-quarter comeback tied the game in the final seconds, lining up a Molly Kaiser mid-range jumper to win the game. The shot ultimately went off the rim and sent the Aggies to their second overtime in less than 48 hours. In the fourth quarter and overtime, NM State was awarded four foul shots and sank three. In the same 15 minutes, LA Tech made 16 of 22 free throws, putting the game out of reach in the extra frame. LA Tech won 70-63 behind a 15-point overtime period. 
 
Across the week, NM State was awarded 36 less free throw attempts than the Bearkats and Lady Techsters. In the past 10 games, Aggie opponents have had equal or more shots at the line nine times, taking 70 more free throws over that sample. 
 
No Comebacks Allowed
The opening moments of games can often foreshadow the result in Aggie games this season. NM State is now 11-1 when on top after 10 minutes, 11-5 when ahead at halftime, and 11-2 with an advantage to start the final frame. For the entire season, the Aggies possess only two losses when leading at any point after the first quarter.  
 
On the flip side, Jody Adams' bunch has yet to come back from a single deficit at any quarter break this season. When trailing or tied, the Aggies are now 0-14 after the opening frame, 0-10 at halftime and 0-13 when down or even at the start of the fourth quarter.  
 
Home Sweet Home
The Conference USA schedule has included 58 games through Feb. 27, 2024. Road teams now have a 19-39 record in those games. The conference's top two seeds (Middle Tennessee and FIU) are a combined 11-3 away from home, with one loss being FIU at Middle Tennessee. The league's other seven teams have combined for just eight road wins in 44 tries. Sam Houston, the league's last-place team, is 2-5 in CUSA home games as part of a 7-18 overall record. 
 
Excluding home games against MTSU, FIU and road games with Sam Houston, CUSA is collectively 3-34 in 37 contests away from home. NM State has one of those three wins; a 50-44 defensive shutdown of Western Kentucky on Jan. 18. In games outside the Pan American Center, NM State is 4-11, with a 2-10 road record and wins in two of three neutral games. 
 
Old Reliable
There have been two Aggies to start all 26 games this season. Every opening tip has been taken by Ene Adams, who has put forth a career year. The senior is sinking 52.1 percent of her shots en route to averaging 7.7 points per game in just 22.2 average minutes of action. Adams also paces the Aggies with 132 total rebounds, 50 of which have come on the offensive end. Molly Kaiser has been the other senior in every starting five of 2023-24. The fourth-year Aggie has improved in nearly every offensive statistic from a year prior. Kaiser has already made more 3-pointers this season (20) than last (12), and has drastically improved her 3-point percentage to 34.5 percent (+9.0). Additionally, the Watauga, Texas native has canned 87.2 percent of her free-throw attempts to bolster her career-high 14.2 points per game. 
 
1K MK
With 1:12 remaining in the third quarter at Middle Tennessee on Jan. 20, Watauga, Texas native Molly Kaiser employed one of her patented moves – driving down the left side of the lane before pulling up for an elbow jumper – burying the shot to give her six points in the quarter. The play held extra significance as it gave Kaiser 1,000 career points, with every bucket coming as a member of the Crimson & White.
 
Kaiser became the 25^th member of the 1,000-point club, and the first since Gia Pack, who played for the Aggies from 2016-2020.
 
Jaila's Jumpers
Transferring in from Butler CC in El Dorado, Kansas, junior guard Jaila Harding has been a spark on offense for the Crimson & White, especially from the 3-point line. Last season, the Aggies ranked 328^th in the nation from beyond the arc, shooting just 26.1 percent. Through 26 games in the 2023-24 season, this has jumped to 31.7 percent, while ranking 141^st in the nation.
 
Among members with at least 2.0 made deep balls per game, Harding paces the Aggies and is second in CUSA with a 37.4 3-point percentage. The Wichita, Kan. native ranks 70^th individually by 3-point percentage and is fourth in the conference with 2.12 made threes per contest.
  
Scouting the Lady Flames
Liberty is led by 25th-year Head Coach Carey Green, who touts a 560-231 record in his time with the program. Bella Smuda is the team's leading scorer, pouring in 14.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per night. The 6-foot-6 center went for 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting when she faced the Aggies on Feb. 1, adding 13 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals. She also canned all six of her free-throw attempts, proving costly on any fouls she drew down low. 
 
Jordan Hodges is the lead guard on the team, averaging 8.3 points and 4.2 assists per night. Hodges set a career high with 20 points last time out against NM State. 
 
Lastly, Asia Boone is a stellar freshman, posting 9.4 points a night and sinking 34.8% of 3-pointers. Boone has already collected eight Freshman of the Week awards and will look to replicate her 14-point showing against the Aggies in which she sank four 3-pointers.  
 
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