LAS CRUCES, N.M. — After their 87-48 loss to the University of Southern California, the New Mexico State women’s basketball team returned to the Pan American Center to take on New Mexico Highlands University Nov. 11, resulting in their first home win for the season. The Aggies held control throughout the game without losing the lead, holding the Cowgirls to 32% shooting from the field and 17% from long range on the road to a 78-61 win.
Continuing her scoring fever after playing USC, Lucía Yenes led the Aggies with 23 points. Imani Warren kept the heat by securing her first career double-double, finishing with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Warren opened the matchup by making the first bucket before Anna Csenyi notched her first three-pointer of the season, putting the Aggies ahead early 5-0.
Las Cruces native and former Cowgirl, Emma Christiano, made her home debut. She picked up a steal and dished the ball to Csenyi for a fastbreak layup, part of the Aggies 13-4 run to the end of the quarter, 18-8.
The Aggies kept the pressure going into the second frame with Iyana Beh acquiring four points, quickly earning her a new career best. Yenes interrupted a fastbreak layup for Warren, giving the Aggies their largest lead of the quarter, 28-10. The Cowgirls put up a fight to end of the first half, lessening the lead with a buzzer beater from Aspen Salazar, ending the half down 38-28.
At the beginning of the third quarter, the Aggies shot 59% from the field (17-for-29), while holding control in paint points (30-14), and fast break scoring (15-2).
Warren set a new career high during the third quarter with three points, five rebounds and four assists.
Post play ignited New Mexico State to start the third quarter with Yenes and Beh combining for eight points and ending the quarter with a 58-38 lead.
Senior guard Loes Rozing stole the spotlight in the fourth quarter with a season-high nine points and an individual 4-0 scoring run, boosting NM State to its largest lead of the game, 71-47.
With the win, Head Coach Jody Adams earned her 50th win since joining the program in 2022. Adams commented on the team’s performance and the contributions made to the game.
“I liked the way Lucia Lara used her length for us tonight and Emma Christiano did a great job calming the team down and putting us in position to get good looks,” Adams said. “I think we learned a lot about pace of play tonight and how we can effectively use our practices to get better as the season rolls along.”
The Aggies will return to the Pan American Center to host the University of New Mexico for the Battle of I-25 Sunday, Nov. 16. The matchup will be live streamed on ESPN+ and tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
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