CHICAGO – The New Mexico State women's basketball team shot 51.9-percent from the floor and took down Chicago State 71-47 at Jones Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon to pick up its third-straight win to close the regular season.
 
Both teams struggled offensively to start the game with the Aggies leading 11-10 with 2:17 to play in the quarter. However, Amanda Soderqvist drilled a three to spark an 8-0 Aggie run to the first quarter with a 19-10 lead.
 
It looked like the Aggies would pull away after Jade Bradley made two free throws to make it 21-10 early in the second quarter but the Cougars continued to battle and went on an 11-2 run to cut NM State's lead to two, 23-21. However, that's as close as Chicago State would get as the Aggies took a 30-25 lead into the half. Shania Harper scored eight points in the half.
 
NM State came out of the halftime break and quickly extended its lead to double digits, 35-25, after a three from Adrianna Henderson and an Aaliyah Prince layup. Then, the Aggies erupted and closed the quarter on a 19-9 run to take a 20-point lead, 54-34, into the fourth quarter. NM State outscored Chicago State 24-9 overall in the third.
 
The fourth quarter was more evenly matched but the Aggies finished strong for the 71-47 final.
 
Deja Terrell led the way for the Aggies, matching a career-high with 16 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Molly Kaiser and Prince each added 10 points on the afternoon.
 
The Aggies offense was on fire all afternoon as they finished the game shooting 51.9-perrcent from the floor and 40-percent from three. NM State outrebounded Chicago State 35-28 and forced 19 Cougar turnovers.  
 
NM State now heads to Las Vegas, Nev., for the WAC Tournament March 10-13 at the Orleans Arena. The Aggies will get their stay in Vegas underway with a quarterfinal matchup against Seattle U on Wednesday, March 10, at 2 p.m. (MT).