LAS CRUCES, N.M. – For the final time in 2023-24, NM State will suit up at home on Saturday. The Aggies will welcome Jax State to the Pan American Center for the second-ever meeting between the two sides at 2:00 PM. Less than a month prior, Jax State won the series opener 56-49 at home, overcoming a late fourth quarter deficit. Now, both teams sit at 5-9 in desperate need of a win to pull ahead in the CUSA standings with one week remaining in the regular season. NM State is 0-3 at home versus the top three seeds (MTSU, FIU and Liberty), but 4-0 in all other CUSA home games.
How to Follow
Who: Jax State (10-16, 5-9 CUSA) at NM State (11-16, 5-9 CUSA)
Where: Pan American Center – Las Cruces, NM
When: Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM MT
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
All-Time Series Record: Jax State leads 1-0
Last Meeting: NM State 49 @ Jax State 56 (Feb. 3, 2024)
Where the Aggies Stand
On Thursday, NM State welcomed Liberty to the Pan American Center. The Lady Flames had won eight of nine, with the only loss being at undefeated Middle Tennessee. The home team held a lead for the majority of the first three quarters, which has been a formula for success in 2023-24. However, the Aggies missed 11 field goals and six free throws in the final 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Liberty recorded 20 fourth-quarter points, led by Emma Hess' 24 points in the second half. NM State as a team recorded 27 points.
With its third straight loss, NM State fell to 5-9 in CUSA play, holding on to eighth place in the league standings. Jax State is also 5-9 after falling to UTEP on Thursday in El Paso, setting up an important game ahead of the CUSA Tournament. NM State has its eyes on avoiding the eighth seed, thus earning another two days off and one less win required to win the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
No Comebacks Allowed
The opening moments of games can often foreshadow the result in Aggie games this season. NM State is now 11-2 when on top after 10 minutes, 11-6 when ahead at halftime, and 11-3 with an advantage to start the final frame. For the entire season, the Aggies possess only six 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 61 games through Feb. 27, 2024. Road teams now have a 20-41 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 nine road wins in 47 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 4-36 in 40 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 27 games this season. Every opening tip has been taken by Ene Adams, who has put forth a career year. The senior is sinking 51.9 percent of her shots en route to averaging 7.8 points per game in just 22.3 average minutes of action. Adams also paces the Aggies with 139 total rebounds, 55 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 nearly twice as many 3-pointers this season (23) than last (12), and has drastically improved her 3-point percentage to 36.5 percent (+11.0). Additionally, the Watauga, Texas native has canned 86.5 percent of her free-throw attempts to bolster her career-high 14.4 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 25th 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 328th in the nation from beyond the arc, shooting just 26.1 percent. Through 27 games in the 2023-24 season, this has jumped to 31.7 percent, while ranking 143rd 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 36.8 3-point percentage. The Wichita, Kan. native ranks 76th individually by 3-point percentage and is fourth in the conference with 2.07 made threes per contest.
Scouting the Gamecocks
Jax State is led by 11th-year Head Coach Rick Pietri, who touts a 169-151 record in his time with the program. No Gamecocks average 10+ points per contest, but Bre'Anna Rhodes is the team's leading scorer, pouring in 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per night. Kristol Ayson is the only Gamecock to start all 26 games this season, ranking second in points per game (7.9), adding 90 rebounds and 45 assists on the campaign. Ayson poured in a game-high 17 points on just nine shots last time against the Aggies, and was joined by Madison McCoy with 14 points. Jax State overcame 23 turnovers and rode a raucous home crowd to win 56-49.
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