By Sydney Huber
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — After a tough stretch, New Mexico State’s women’s basketball team is preparing for its final home games of the regular season at the Pan American Center. Thursday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 28. Fans will get their last chances to cheer on the Aggies from the bleachers as they host Kennesaw State University (Thursday, Feb. 26) and Jacksonville State University (Saturday, Feb. 28) to close out their home slate.
The 2025-26 campaign has proved to be a season of highs and lows for New Mexico State. Despite the state of their record, several players have stood out offensively and defensively. Lucía Yenes leads NMSU in scoring at 13.1 points per game and contributes about 5.9 rebounds per game, giving the Aggies a steady presence both in scoring and on the glass.
Morane Dossou is one of the team’s top rebounders, averaging 7.8 boards per game, and Imani Warren brings energy on both ends with strong defensive numbers, including leading the team in steals with 2.1 per game.
Another contributor, Emma Christiano, has helped facilitate the offense, leading the team in assists with 2.5 per game, and the Aggies’ balanced scoring has been a feature in many games this season, even if consistency has varied across matchups.
Head coach Jody Adams and her players have emphasized resilience throughout the year, battling through tough matchups and working to close margins in games against Conference USA opponents. While this does not reflect a march toward a conference title, the team’s development – especially from underclassmen stepping into larger roles – has been a bright spot.
The Aggies’ Thursday opponents, Kennesaw State, have been familiar competitors throughout the season. Kennesaw enters with its own work to do, having experienced ups and downs in conference play throughout their own season. The Owls are 12-14 (5-10 CUSA) on the season looking to keep postseason hopes alive.
Earlier in the season, the Owls picked up a win over NMSU, a 70-55 final on Jan. 24, which gives the Aggies a motivating reminder of how tight this game can be.
On Saturday, NMSU welcomes the Jax State Gamecocks for their last home game of the season. The Gamecocks and Aggies have met in recent seasons with competitive results, and Jax State tends to bring strong defensive intensity and outside shooting to their matchups. A previous meeting from the two programs season saw the Gamecocks come out on top 57-46.
Saturday’s tilt offers NMSU a chance to finish their home campaign with energy and confidence.
These final home games will give the women’s team a chance to finish strong in front of their supporters. If Yenes continues to lead offensively and the rebounding duo of Dossou and others assert control on the boards, the Aggies could pressure both Kennesaw and Jax State in key ways.
With both teams battling for positioning and pride in the closing weeks of the season, these contests feel meaningful as any – and Aggie fans should expect spirited efforts from all sides.
Both matchups will be streaming live via ESPN+, Thursday’s tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and Saturday’s set for 2 p.m.
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