By Gabriel Katko
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State women’s basketball took down conference rival Kennesaw State University in convincing fashion, 52-40, Thursday, Feb. 26.
The win marks the Aggie’s first at home since February, and the story was all about the team’s defense and resilience.
The Owls got off to a hot start in the first quarter, outscoring the Aggies 20-11. Despite the slow start, Aggie forwards Lucía Yenes and Senoj Jones made their presence known in the second quarter. The duo combined for 15 of the team’s 18 second-quarter points, holding the Owls to just 7 points.
Forward Lucia Lara, who played a season-high 31 minutes on the night, alongside Guard Imani Warren, came off the bench and fortified the team’s defense.
The second half was all about the Aggies. After allowing 20 first-quarter points, the Owls would be held to just 20 points the remainder of the game. Emma Christiano, Yenes, and Lara each had three steals, preventing the Owls from swooping back into the game.
Yenes led the team in scoring with 21 points followed by Jones who finished with 14.
After the game, head coach Jody Adams spoke to the team’s impressive win, saying it came down to them settling into the game and executing the game plan.
“We moved some pieces around, so it wasn’t what they would expect to see,” Adams said. “I think it was about settling in and really just going for it.”
The Aggies forced 27 Owl turnovers, shot 42% from the field, and led by as many as 14 points.
Moving forward, the Aggies will conclude the season with road matches against Conference USA rivals Louisiana Tech University Thursday, March 5, and Sam Houston State University, Saturday, March 7.
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