LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's basketball team looks to return to the top of the Western Athletic Conference standings with a pair of conference road games at CSU Bakersfield at 8 p.m. (MT) on Thursday, Jan. 30, and at Grand Canyon on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m.
 
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Follow Along
Live stats for Thursday's matchup can be found here and live stats for Saturday's game at GCU are available through StatBroadcast.
 
Where to Watch
Fans can stream Thursday night's game at CSU Bakersfield on ESPN3. Saturday's game is set to stream live on the WAC Digital Network.
 
In Her Bag
Through the first six games of the WAC schedule, senior Gia Pack has been putting up Player of the Year numbers. In WAC-only games, Pack leads the league in scoring (19.8), ranks third in rebounds (9.4) and also ranks third three-point percentage (.405). Over her last three games, the native of Phoenix, Ariz., is averaging 27.0 points, 13.3 points and is shooting the three-ball at a .583 clip.
 
Back(Pack)ing Up the Record Book
Through 19 games of the 2019-20 season, Gia Pack ranks 7^th on the NM State all-time scoring list with 1,614 points. Pack is just the seventh player in school history to score at least 1,600 points.

Rank    Player                                                 GP          PPG       Points
  6.          Vicki Evans (1985-89)                   115         14.4       1,656
  7.          Gia Pack (2016-pres.)                  115        14.1       1,614
  8.          Tracy Goetsch (1988-92)              120         13.0       1,559
  9.          Sasha Weber (2012-16)                122         124        1,511
10.          Madison Spence (2007-11)          121        12.2       1,480
 
Scouting the Runners
CSU Bakersfield holds a 12-7 overall record, a 4-2 WAC record and has lost two of its last three games. The Aggies beat the Runners twice last season including an Adenike Aderinto buzzer-beater in Bakersfield on Jan. 12, 2019.
 
As always, CSU Bakersfield relies on a ball-hawking defense that leads the WAC in steals (10.1) and turnover margin (+3.79). The Runners rank third in scoring defense, giving up 64.1 points per game.
 
Offensively, the Runners are led by redshirt sophomore Jayden Eggleston who averages 12.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Ashley Austin is the only other Runner averaging double figures, scoring 10.6 points per game.
 
A Look at the Lopes
Grand Canyon currently holds a 4-2 WAC record and a 9-8 overall record. The Lopes are slated to play UT Rio Grande Valley on Jan. 30. Last season, the Lopes handed NM State its lone conference loss, a 54-51 win on Jan. 10, 2019.
 
Like Bakersfield, GCU hangs its hat on defense as it leads the conference in scoring defense (62.2). The Lopes rank eighth in scoring offense (61.3) but have the best field-goal percentage in the WAC (.426).
 
Da'jah Daniel paces the GCU offense as both the team's leading scorer (12.9) and rebounder (10.1).
 
Up Next
NM State returns to the Pan American Center on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. to take on Chicago state before hosting Kansas City on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. As always, students receive free entry with valid student I.D.