SAN DIEGO – An early Feast Week matchup saw NM State (1-3) making a trip out west for a bout with West Coast Conference member San Diego (2-4). Despite an impressive 20-point outing from junior guard Imani Warren, the Aggies fell by a score of 57-48.
 
Lucia Lara made her second consecutive start, putting NM State on the board first. Fellow Spaniard Lucía Yenes added a bucket of her own, with Lara attempting and connecting on the first 3-pointer of her career to give the Aggies a 7-2 advantage. At the end of the first, NM State held a 12-11 advantage – its third straight contest with a lead after the opening ten minutes.
 
Putting in a trio of early points on free throws, Imani Warren added five to the Aggies' tally in the second stanza, finishing with eight in the first half. Freshman forward Senoj Jones made her debut for the program, putting in a quick bucket before halftime to help NM State to a 24-21 halftime edge.
 
Sturdy defense on both ends of the floor kept the points at a premium, with the two teams combining to shoot 28.8% (17-for-59) from the floor. The Crimson & White used second-chance scoring (5-1 edge over the Toreros) and points at the charity stripe (7-1) to hold the lead at the break.
 
Lucía Yenes put in her second made basket of the game to keep NM State ahead 26-23, though an extended scoring slump allowed San Diego to take control in the third quarter, outpacing the Crimson & White 16-4. In the first twenty minutes of action, the Aggies had just ten turnovers, though they coughed up the rock seven times in the third quarter to trail 39-31.
 
A balanced offensive attack from Imani Warren, Lucía Yenes, Senoj Jones and Loes Rozing to open the fourth shrunk the deficit to just one (39-38) with 7:07 remaining in the frame, but a 6-0 surge from the Toreros in just 53 ticks of the clock regrew the advantage (45-38).
 
Down the stretch, Imani Warren put the Aggie offense on her back, tallying eight straight points, including her first made triple of the season. This gave the junior from Milwaukee, Wis., 20 points on the night, a new career high in the 57-48 loss.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• Imani Warren tied or set a new career-best in points for the third time in four games this season, finishing with a game-high 20 points – going 6-for-16 from the field while knocking down seven of her ten free throw attempts. In 27 minutes, she rounded out her performance with three rebounds, two steals and two blocks (tied for the team lead).
• Lucia Lara continues to be a consistent presence for the Crimson & White in the scoring column, notching a new personal Division I-best nine points against USD, while adding nine rebounds. In the last three contests, Lara has averaged 7.3 points and 8.6 rebounds.
• Lucía Yenes finished the day with six points, her first game this season in which she failed to score in double-digits. However, the senior forward would notch career-best marks in both assists (4) and steals (2), while adding one block.
• Freshman forward Senoj Jones made her NM State debut on Monday, tallying six points and adding four rebounds and a pair of blocks (tied for the team lead).
• Fellow freshman DeAvion Wilson saw extended action against the Toreros, swiping a team-high four steals alongside other new career-highs in rebounds (2) and assists (2).
• Tallying a season-high six blocks on the day, the Aggies have out-blocked their opponents three times in four games – doing so just four times in 33 tries last season.

 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Jody Adams, on the matchup with San Diego: "We have to keep battling and learn how to compete for four quarters. Three quarters won't get the win most of the time, and it didn't today. Unforced errors and rebounding can be improved big time. When we make adjustments, we need to implement them immediately and take them from the huddle to the floor.

I thought this week in practice, and in the game, our two freshmen, Dee [DeAvion Wilson] and Senoj [Jones], showed toughness and were willing to step up and make plays in situations they had not been in.

At this point early in the season, it will be my job to teach and continue to put us in a position to compete and win. It's our student-athletes' job to grow, compete, and be resilient at this time. Growth is uncomfortable and hard. Most shy away from it, but the game of basketball requires it."

NM State plays two more contests during the week, heading down to New Orleans to take part in the Big Easy Classic, beginning with the College of Charleston on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. Tip-off is set for Noon MT with the game streaming live on YouTube and live stats available at nmstatesports.com/stats.
 
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