LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team fell in its final non-conference game, 67-54, at Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats made 10 threes to five for the Aggies.
 
NM State (3-10, 0-0 WAC) started slow, with ACU (10-1, 0-0 Southland) building a 14-6 lead after five minutes. However, a jumper from Rodrea Echols started an Aggie run that saw them close to 18-13 at the end of the quarter.
 
The two teams traded buckets to start the second quarter before a pair of ree throws and a three gave ACU an 11-point lead, 28-17, at the 6:35 mark. After the Wildcats opened their lead to 33-19, Amanda Soderqvist hit a three, followed by a Gia Pack jumper with eight seconds left, and NM State trailed 35-24 at the half.
 
Then, the Wildcats ripped off an 11-2 run to start the third and take a 46-26 lead. The Aggies didn't gain any ground for the remainder of the quarter and trailed 54-34 after three. New Mexico State, continued to battle but every time momentum swung towards NM State, ACU answered with a three pointer. NM State was able to trim the deficit in the fourth but ultimately fell 67-54.
 
Soderqvist led the way for New Mexico State with 14 points on 4-9 shooting beyond the arc tp a match a career-high. Pack added 13 for the Aggies who shot 24-60 (40.0-percent).
 
NM State now readies to defend its Western Athletic Conference title when it opens conference play at the Pan American Center against California Baptist on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m.