LAS CRUCES – The New Mexico State women's basketball team survived a scare on Saturday, battling back to late in the fourth quarter to eventually win in overtime against UMKC, 78-74, at the Pan American Center.
 
The win gave NM State its 15th-straight, tying the program record for consecutive wins. The last time the Aggies won 15-straight was back in the latter half of the 1987-88 season. That streak was snapped in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament to Washington, 85-74.
 
With 2:11 left to play in regulation, junior Tamera William drained both of her free-throws to give NM State (24-3, 13-0 WAC) its first lead of the game, 63-62. From there it went back-and-forth until UMKC's (9-17, 4-9 WAC) Aries Washington sank a floater at the baseline to tie things up at 68 with 55 seconds remaining.
 
Moriah Mack had an opportunity to put the game away, but missed both of her free throws with seven seconds to go. William's drive to the basket as time expired in regulation was blocked by Taylor Leathers, sending the Aggies to their first overtime game all season.
 
With the game tied at 68, Mack put the game on her shoulders and scored six of her game-high 21 points in the five minutes of the extra period. The 21 points tied her career-high, which she set against Utah Valley in the conference opener back in January.
 
The junior guard opened the overtime period with a short jumper in the lane. Mack then followed up with a steal and went coast-to-coast to give the Aggies the 72-68 lead.
 
After a pair of free-throws from the 'Roos, Salas was found the bottom of the basket with a spin-move in the paint followed by layup from Mack to extend the lead to 76-70 with 1:01 left to play.
 
The Aggies' woes at the charity stripe continued as they missed four-straight before Shanice Davis was able to drain two and give NM State the 78-72 lead with 12 seconds remaining.
 
UMKC's Kiana Law drove to the lane with nine seconds on the clock, but was blocked by William before Washington's jumper as time expired with NM State on top 78-74.
 
The Aggies were flat to start the game, shooting just 4-for-16 from the floor to UMKC's 61.-5-percent (8-13).
 
NM State shot much better in the second quarter but UMKC's hot shooting continued – hitting 8-of-12 in the second frame – as NM State headed into the break trailing 37-30.
 
Saturday's game was the first time NM State trailed heading into the fourth quarter at home since the loss against UTEP. It was also the second time in three games where the Aggies trailed their opponents after three quarters of play.
 
The NM State defense began to pick up late in the fourth quarter during its rally, turning the Kangaroos over 20 times for 21 points. The Aggies also had a 40-16 edge in the paint, despite losing the battle on the glass, 43-42, and giving up 18 second-chance points.
 
Davis finished with a season-high 19 points with four boards and four assists on 7-of-11 shooting. The senior point guard also hit two crucial 3-pointers down the stretch to keep the Aggies within striking distance in the second half.
 
Brianna Freeman pulled down key rebounds for NM State in the fourth, after sitting out with foul trouble early on. The 6-1 forward finished with 10 points, seven boards and three blocks while William added six points and a game-high 11 rebounds to go with her three assists and two blocks.
 
NM State will look to finish out the regular-season undefeated next Saturday when it hosts UT Rio Grande Valley on senior day at 2 p.m. on March 5.
 
POSTGAME NOTES: Saturday's win gave NM State its fourth-straight win when trailing its opponent after three quarters of play (4-2)…Aggies are now 3-1 when games are decided by four points or less…This is the 12th time this season Freeman has registered multiple blocks in a game…New Mexico State's 48-percent from the line is the second-lowest of the season…The Aggies shot 42.9-percent (3-7) from the line against Northern Arizona.