LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team, is looking to stay unbeaten in WAC play as they travel to take on two conference opponents.
 
The first contest will see the Aggies take on the Grand Canyon University Lopes in Phoenix, Ariz. on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. MT.
 
The next game will follow shortly after on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 1 p.m. MT as NM State battles CSU Bakersfield in Bakersfield, Calif.
 
WHERE TO CATCH THE ACTION
Jan. 12 at GCU-
Live Stats
 
Jan. 14 at CSU Bakersfield-
Watch: Roadrunner Network
Live Stats
 
GET CONNECTED
To stay connected with the women's basketball team and catch all of the up-to-date information and breaking news, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, @NMStateWBB.
 
SCOUTING THE LOPES
Thursday's game will see the Aggies travel to take on conference rival Grand Canyon University, a team currently sitting at 9-5 overall and 1-0 in the WAC. The Lopes conference opener saw the team top Utah Valley, 62-46.
 
GCU is led by redshirt senior, Marina Laramie, a center who is averaging 20.6 points and 8.0 rebounds while starting nine games. Two other players on the Lopes are also averaging double digit points as Jessica Gajewski is putting up 13.9 points per game and Casey Rarrick is averaging 11.3 points.
 
As a team, GCU is scoring at a rate of 66.9 points per game, including 36.7 rebounds and 15.2 assists. Grand Canyon has hit their stride in the second quarter this season as it is the only 10 minute period in which the team has outscored their opponents (231-201).
 
NM State currently holds a 6-0 series lead over Grand Canyon, as the team looks to stay unbeaten on Thursday evening. The last time these two teams faced off was back on Feb. 4, 2016, as the Aggies defeated the Lopes to a score of 64-44.
 
LOOKING AT THE ROADRUNNERS
The next opponent for NM State will be CSU Bakersfield, who is 5-10 this season and 0-1 in WAC play as the Roadrunners just feel in a game at Seattle U., 54-47.
 
Bakersfield's top scorers are Erika Williams (12.2 PPG) and Aja Williams (11.1 PPG). Over the team's first 15 games, Erika Williams also leads the Roadrunners in assists (35) and steals (19). On the glass, the opponent has seen the most production out of Brittany Sims who has averaged 6.3 rebounds, including a team-leading 51 defensive boards.
 
On average, Bakersfield has been outscored this season (67.3-63.7), but comes out strong each game as they have been able to outscore opponents as a whole (267-252). With seven players over six feet, the Roadrunners use their height to protect their end of the floor, swatting 71 shots so far this season.
 
NM State holds a slight edge over CSU Bakersfield in the series history, 4-3. The last match up between the Aggies and Roadrunners featured a win in Bakersfield for New Mexico State, 67-59.
 
THE LEADER OF THE WAC
Along with being 2-0 in conference play, New Mexico State women's basketball also proves to be ahead of the WAC competition as they rank in the top-three in 20 of the 21 recorded team statistical categories.
 
The team's play is featured by leading the conference in six fields over 15 games, including scoring offense (70.6 PPG), scoring defense (60.4 PPG), scoring margin (+10.2), rebounding offense (39.9 RPG), turnover margin (+4.3) and defensive rebounds (26.1 per game).
 
FREEMAN JOINS AN ELITE GROUP
With 1:05 left in the first quarter against Chicago State, senior forward Brianna Freeman hit a mid-range jumper to put NM State ahead 25-18. This basket made Freeman the 21st player in New Mexico State women's basketball history to join the 1,000 point club.  The last Aggie player to achieve the feat was Freeman's teammate, Sasha Weber (2012-16, 1,511 pts).
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE AGGIES
In NM State's second game of conference play this season, the team welcomed the Chicago State Cougars to the Pan Am. The game saw the Aggies dominate for 40 minutes as they beat the Cougars, 100-63. This was the first time a WAC team has hit the century mark since NM State accomplished it back on Jan. 18, 2014 in a win over UMKC (106-77).
 
The high-scoring contest saw six players reach double digits, led by Tamera William (20), and followed by a career-high from Tyler Ellis (15), then strong performances from Brooke Salas (13), Brianna Freeman (12), Gia Pack (11) and Moriah Mack (10). 
 
WHO'S UP NEXT?
After the match ups with GCU and CSU Bakersfield, the Aggies next scheduled contest will be a week later as NM State travels to UMKC as they battle the Roos on Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. MT.