LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Brianna Freeman's career-high 27 points against Northwestern State in the opening game of the Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic propelled the Aggies to a 65-54 win Friday afternoon at the Pan American Center.
 
"Brianna [Freeman] showed what she can do today against a very good team," head coach Mark Trakh said. "We played a very good NCAA Tournament team that's been there the last two years."
 
The win moved NM State to 5-0 on the year, its best start since 1993-94 when the team started the year 8-0. Friday's win also extended the Aggies' home winning-streak to 16. NM State is now two games shy of tying its second-best home winning-streak since the 1992-94 seasons (18).
 
It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the first half, as NM State took a 15-11 lead into second frame behind Freeman's eight points. The Aggies, however, couldn't pull away from the Lady Demons (3-3) in the second frame as they took a 25-24 lead into the break.
 
Janelle Perez, an El Paso, Texas, native kept the Lady Demons within striking distance, scoring 11 of her 18 points in the first half and was 7-of-13 from the floor. Four of her seven made field-goals came from downtown.
 
Freeman had 10 of her 27 points in the first half and had grabbed seven of 11 rebounds as she finished the game with her second double-double of the season and 11th of her career.
 
With Northwestern State leading 33-30 in the third quarter, Brooke Salas and Freeman teamed up to score the Aggies' first 13 points of the frame.
 
Shanice Davis nailed a 3-pointer from the corner nearest the bench to help NM State pull away from the Northwestern State, 41-33, with 2:17 remaining in the third.
 
The Aggies would hold onto their lead in the final 10 minutes of play, thanks to a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points. NM State also turned 15 Northwestern State turnovers into 16 points.
 
Davis, the only other player in double-figures for NM State, finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.
 
The Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic concludes on Saturday when the Aggies take on Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. Northwestern State will square off against Long Beach State at 1 p.m.
 
Admission is free for the Aggies' game for fans that show their ticket from NM State football game against Arkansas State.
 
POSTGAME NOTES: Freeman finished the night with a career-high in points  with 27…Her previous career-high was 25 that she matched twice, last time coming against UT Pan America (1/31/15)…She also beat her previous high in made field-goals (10), finishing the night 12-for-18…Emily Hardin tallied her first points of the 2015-16 season when she knocked down a 3-pointer free-throw line extended late in the fourth quarter.