EL PASO, TEXAS – On Saturday night, the New Mexico State women's basketball team traveled to the Don Haskins Center to take on rival UTEP in the second installment of the Battle of I-10. After falling behind by double digits in the first half, the Aggies could not close the gap in a loss to the Miners, 65-45.
 
In the opening quarter each offense started slow as NM State (1-5) knocked down its first basket of the night 2:50 into the first quarter. After tying the game up at 4-4, UTEP (4-1) went on a 6-0 run causing the Aggies to call a timeout to slow things down. Coming out of the break, the sides traded baskets and the Crimson & White trailed 12-7 through one quarter of action.
 
In the beginning of the second quarter, NM State looked to climb back into the contest with a 6-2 run to get within a point of the Miners. This was the closest the Aggies would get as the Miners went on a 14-2 run before NM State called a timeout at the 2:04 mark trailing 28-15.
 
The final two minutes of the second saw the Aggies allow the run to end at 18-4 for the Miners. UTEP was able to take advantage of two NM State starters remaining on the bench for the majority of first half play due to foul trouble and the Crimson & White trailed 32-17 heading to the locker room. Play through 20 minutes was led by Gia Pack who had a team-high eight points and Aaliyah Prince who had four points and two steals.
 
Returning to the floor for the second half, NM State could not find shots to fall and UTEP was able to outscore the visitors with another 18-4 run. This forced the Aggies to use their fourth and final timeout in the third quarter trailing the Miners 50-21.
 
Heading into the final quarter down 53-25, Pack tried to get the team back into the game with the first basket. This bucket gave the guard 10 points on the night and also 1,345 for her career that moved her into 13^th all-time in program history.
 
Despite outscoring the opposition, 20-12, in the fourth quarter, NM State could not close the gap and fell to UTEP on the road, 65-45. At night's end, scoring for the Aggies was led by Pack who finished with 18 points, followed by Prince with 10 and on the defensive end, Adenike Aderinto led the way with five steals.
 
The New Mexico State women's basketball team now enters tournament action in the Thanksgiving Classic beginning against Georgia State on Friday, Nov. 29, at 1 p.m. MT.