HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The postseason has arrived. With the regular season in the past, NM State is now playing for its season in every game from this point forward. Up first for the Crimson & White is a very familiar opponent. The Aggies took down FIU in Miami on Senior Day just five days ago, prevailing 65-56. Now, the two sides will clash again, with even more at stake. The 6-seeded Aggies will look to replicate their recent win over 3-seeded FIU in VBC Propst Arena on Thursday.
Saturday's nine-point win was NM State's first-ever win against FIU. The Aggies and Panthers met seven times as Sun Belt members from 2001-2005 and met again as CUSA foes back in January.
How to Follow
Who: NM State (12-17, 6-10 CUSA) vs. FIU (20-10, 11-5 CUSA)
Where: VBC Propst Arena – Huntsville, AL
When: Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM MT
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
All-Time Series Record: FIU leads 8-1
Last Meeting: NM State 65 @ FIU 56 (March 9, 2024)
Where the Aggies Stand
In their regular-season finale, the Aggies dominated the glass on the road, out-rebounding FIU 38-21. The visitors tallied more boards on the defensive end (26) than the home team did in the entire game. In the fourth quarter, the Aggies got downhill and consistently attacked the short-handed Panthers. Each foul put the home team in further danger of serious foul trouble, and FIU committed nine, setting up 15 NM State free-throw attempts in the final 10 minutes. For the game, the Aggies went 16-for-19 in what was their best performance of the season at the charity stripe.
The win, accompanied by a Saturday WKU loss and a UTEP loss two days prior, landed NM State in the No. 6 seed slot. Considering other outcomes, the bracket shook out about as favorably as Jody Adams and the coaching staff could hope for. Now, they steer clear of the extra '8 vs. 9' game, gain an extra two days of rest and avoid undefeated MTSU until a potential CUSA Championship Game.
Of course, the Aggies must take the tournament one step at a time, beginning with FIU. The Crimson & White have played just one game over the past 12 days; the aforementioned nine-point victory in Miami. If they can generate a similar result, the Aggies will turn around approximately 28 hours later for a matchup with the winner between (7) WKU and (2) Liberty. That semifinal game has a scheduled tip-off time of 7:00 PM MT (8:00 local) on Friday, March 15.
Postseason History
The Aggies played five postseason games a year ago, finishing 3-2 and falling in the WBI Championship Game. Their two losses were by a combined three points, thanks in part to a heart-breaking buzzer-beating heave from Southern Utah in the WAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
Over the years, the Aggies have built a history of success in March. Across 18 years in the WAC, NM State won four tournament championships and amassed a 23-14 record in the WAC Tournament. The Crimson & White last made the NCAA Tournament in 2019, when they went 26-7 and 15-1 in conference play, ultimately falling to Iowa State in the Round of 64.
CUSA Award Winners
Three Aggies earned Conference USA Postseason Awards after the program's first year in the conference. Molly Kaiser averaged a team-high 14.7 points per game, leading the team in scoring 18 times. Additionally, she led the team in games played, minutes played, starts, points, field goals attempted, field goals made, free throws attempted, free throws made and free-throw percentage. For her efforts, she earned a spot on the All-CUSA First Team.
Ene Adams and Jaila Harding each ended up as Honorable Mention All-CUSA selections. Adams started all 29 games and has greatly improved over the course of the 2023-24 season. In conference play, she averaged 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Over the course of her last 12 games, Adams is averaging 9.5 points per night. On the season, she's converted on a team-high 52.4% of her shots.
Jaila Harding has been one of the most dangerous 3-point shooters in the nation, boasting a 36.4% clip (second in CUSA). Among those making 2.0-plus triples per contest, she ranks 86th in the country by percentage and is fourth in CUSA with 2.03 made long balls per game. She is averaging 9.4 points per game (second on team), and 10.0 in CUSA games. In conference play, she made 37.1% of all shots beyond the arc.
No Comebacks Allowed
The opening moments of games can often foreshadow the result in Aggie games this season. NM State is now 12-2 when on top after 10 minutes, 12-6 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 had minimal success coming back from deficits at any quarter break this season. When trailing or tied, the Aggies are now 0-15 after the opening frame and 0-11 at halftime. Saturday's win at FIU was the first time NM State won a game all season when behind or tied heading into the fourth quarter. They are now 1-14 when down or even after 30 minutes.
Old Reliable
There have been two Aggies to start all 29 games this season. Every opening tip has been taken by Ene Adams, who has put forth a career year to land on the Honorable Mention All-CUSA list. The senior is sinking 52.4 percent of her shots en route to averaging 7.8 points per game in just 22.5 average minutes of action. Adams also paces the Aggies with 156 total rebounds, 62 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, earning a spot on the All-CUSA First Team. Kaiser has twice as many 3-pointers this season (24) compared to last year (12), and has drastically improved her 3-point percentage to 35.3 percent (+9.7). Additionally, the Watauga, Texas native has canned 87.5 percent of her free-throw attempts to bolster her career-high 14.7 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. The senior guard is now 16 points away from 1,200 in her career.
3-Point Priority
Last season, the Aggies ranked 328th in the nation from beyond the arc, shooting just 26.1 percent. Through 29 games in the 2023-24 regular season, this jumped to 31.1 percent, while ranking 167th in the nation.
On the defensive end, NM State has been even more impressive when it comes to shots from range. The Aggies were first in CUSA, holding teams to just 28.4% from beyond the arc in the regular season. That mark ranked 47th-best in the nation. The only other CUSA school that ranked in the top 100 in 3-point percentage defense was undefeated, top-seeded MTSU.
NM State went 6-10 in CUSA play this season, finishing with the No. 6 seed. In those 10 losses, opponents averaged 6.3 made 3-pointers per contest, shooting 33.51% from range. In their six wins, however, the Aggies held opponents to just 4.8 made triples per game and opponents shot 30.2%.
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. Among members with at least 2.0 made deep balls per game, Harding paces the Aggies and is second in CUSA with a 36.4 3-point percentage. The Wichita, Kan. native ranks 86th individually by 3-point percentage and is fourth in the conference with 2.03 made threes per contest. For her efforts, Harding landed on the Honorable Mention All-CUSA list.
Scouting the Panthers
FIU is led by fourth-year Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley, who touts a 64-58 record in her time with the program. Burks-Wiley was named 2023-24 CUSA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year earlier this week, after leading the team to its first 20-plus win season since 2011-12.
The Panthers were led on the floor by Tanajah Hayes in both regular-season matchups. The junior guard landed on the CUSA Second Team and All-Defensive Team after averaging10.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.2. steals per contest. Hayes contributed 18 points in each game against NM State in the regular season. She also poured in nine assists, four steals and two blocks while playing 70 of 80 minutes across the two-game split with the Aggies.
Mya Kone is the team's leading scorer, pouring in 11.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per night to earn a spot on the All-CUSA First Team. In the regular season against NM State, Kone tallied 16 points and 15 rebounds, but was held to 5-for-17 shooting, including a combined 1-for-9 mark on 3-pointers. Courtney Prenger (Honorable Mention All-CUSA) is the only Panther to start 29-plus games this season, racking up 8.9 points per game, adding 103 rebounds and 28 assists on the campaign.
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