LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Returning to the Pan American Center, NM State (8-18, 4-10 CUSA) played host to rival UTEP (12-13, 4-10 CUSA). Following a tight first half, the Aggies failed to keep pace with the visiting Miners, falling by a final score of 69-58.
 
Imani Warren notched a fast start for the Aggies, tallying five points, including one of two made 3-pointers for the junior guard, to give NM State its largest lead of the afternoon (7-3). Anna Csenyi closed the opening quarter with a made 3-pointer, giving the Aggies a 14-11 lead. However, a 9-2 run by UTEP to begin the second saw the Aggies fall behind by four (20-16).
 
Despite a quartet of made 3-point baskets in the first 20 minutes, NM State trailed by one at halftime, 29-28. At the break, the Aggies held the edge in rebounds (19-18, 5-2 offensive), bench points (10-2) and blocks (4-1), while trailing in turnovers (5-4) and paint points (14-6).
 
After holding the visitors to 41% shooting from the field and 11 made baskets in the first half, the Miners erupted offensively in the third, knocking down 10 field goals on 62.5% shooting. Graduate guard Loes Rozing battled to keep NM State in the game, notching eight of her 10 points on Saturday afternoon in the third. Heading into the final frame, the Crimson & White trailed 55-42.
 
Emma Christiano buried her sixth 3-pointer of the season early in the fourth, with Keira Hudson sinking one of her three made 3-pointers on the day shortly thereafter, though the Miners were able to build their lead to its largest of the contest with 5:24 remaining (66-48). A 6-0 scoring run by Hudson to close the contest proved too little too late, as NM State dropped its fourth straight game, 69-58.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• Keira Hudson finished with a game-high 15 points, tying her career best in made 3-pointers (3) and in free throws made and attempted (6-for-6, last achieved against NM Highlands on Nov. 11, 2025) in just 14 minutes of action.
• Imani Warren reached double-digits for the 19^th time this season – a team high in double-figure scoring outputs. The junior guard added two rebounds and tied for the team lead in blocks with two.
• Loes Rozing recorded her third game with 10-plus points this season, and first since Dec. 20, 2025 (at Saint Mary's). Five made field goals ties a season-high for the Heiloo, Netherlands native.
• Lucía Yenes finished with a team-high seven rebounds, notching one assist and one steal while totaling four points (1-for-9 from the field).
• As a team, the Aggies finished with a season-low in turnovers (10), while knocking down a new season-best seven 3-pointers.
• For the first time this season, NM State failed to record fewer than six steals in back-to-back contests, finishing with four against Liberty (Feb. 14) and five on Saturday against UTEP.

• Totaling five blocks on Saturday, this became the seventh time in 2025-26 the Aggies posted five or more blocks. NM State is now 1-6 in such contests.

 
QUOTABLES
 
Head Coach Jody Adams, on the performance against Liberty: "Some things we wanted to do, we did really well. We just didn't knock down open shots, and they did. You have to give UTEP the credit, coming in and continuing to battle. I thought our game plan coming in was solid, we played a good three quarters, and unfortunately we struggled to put four good quarters together.
 
When someone punches us, we have to punch back. It's heart-driven. I've challenged this group to really dig down deep.
 
To play this game and be successful at it you have to do hard. You have to do hard when it's ugly, when you're embarrassed, when you've failed. And you've got to bounce back quickly and become tighter as a team."
 
Imani Warren, on the way the team bounces back from the loss: "It starts in practice. Practice is what makes us better. Us going at it with each other, being competitive and locked in. Things we need to translate to the game."
 
Keira Hudson, on the mindset going forward: "As a team in those tough moments, that's when we've got to come together and hold each other accountable."

NM State begins its final slate of home contests next weekend, hosting Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State. The matchup with the Owls tips off on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. MT, with a live stream on ESPN+, and live stats available at nmstatesports.com/stats.

For complete coverage of NM State Women's Basketball, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWBB), Instagram (@NMStateWBB), and like us on Facebook (NM State Women's Basketball).