SAN DIEGO - The Aggies fell to Idaho Sunday afternoon in a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams trading blows throughout. 

NM State was the one who jumped out to the early lead, but Idaho capitalized from behind the three-point line, especially in the second half, touching the Aggies for nine threes in the game. The Vandals defeated the Aggies 68-62 handing them their fifth loss of the season.

NM State got off to a hot start in the first quarter. San Diego native, Sylena Peterson got the scoring started for the Aggies with a three from the right corner to put the Aggies on top. After a pair of Molly Kaiser free throws, Taylor Donaldson hit a mid-range floater just outside the restricted area. A few possessions later, Molly Kaiser did what she did best and attacked the basket for a driving layup and came up successful. She later hit a mid-range jumper with just 3:32 left in the period to put the Aggies up 15-3 forcing Idaho to take their second timeout of the quarter. Ashlee Strawbridge would later close out the quarter with a midrange jumper, using the rim to her advantage, and put it in right before the buzzer sounded signifying the end of the quarter. NM State led Idaho 22-8. 

The Aggies were not as lucky in the second period. The team only made a total of three baskets on 14 shots, which allowed the Vandals to climb back right before the half. By the time the half ended, Idaho had completely flipped the script after hitting on over 50% of their shots in the second quarter. The Vandals only trailed the Aggies by three at the end of the first half. 

NM States field goal percentage had dropped all the way from 50% in the first quarter, to 36.7% in the second. Taylor Donaldson led the team in scoring headed to the break. She tallied eight points and two rebounds while Sylena Peterson and Molly Kaiser had seven each to their total - Peterson also had eight rebounds to her credit. 

Idaho was on a mission to start the second half - make it rain from three. The Vandals stared their second half shooting 5-6 with five makes from behind the arc. Most of the scoring was coming from the Vandals two guards, Rosa Smith and Sydney Gandy who each popped off for 17 points in the game hitting a combined eight three pointers. 

Before the Aggies could blink, the vandals had jumped out to a ten-point lead with 5:28 still to play in the third quarter. Sylena Peterson was doing all she could to help her team back into this game. She scored 15 of her 22 points in the second half and even attacked the glass grabbing 13 total rebounds. Her efforts, along with her teammates, was enough to keep the Aggies within a possession headed into the final quarter as they trailed Idaho 47-44.

Right out the break, Sylena Peterson connected with her third triple of the game, evening the score at 47 a piece. The Vandals answered right back with a three of their own from none other than Sydney Gandy. The two teams traded baskets back and forth for about 3 minutes before back-to-back threes by Idaho put them back up by seven. 

Back-to-back made jumpers by Molly Kaiser and Taylor Donaldson cut the Aggies deficit back to three. Idaho answered that with five straight points of their own. With 3:04 left to play in the game, the Vandals had a 8 point advantage over the Aggies. Peterson decided to take matters into her own hands and scored the Aggies next seven points, including two fast break scores and a triple - her fourth of the game. This brought the Aggies within one point for the first time since the beginning of the second half. 

With two minutes left to play, things were starting to look good for the Aggies hopes again. That was until Idaho connected on yet another three pointer, their ninth of the game. By this point the Aggies had emptied their tank and had no answer left in them 

Notes

• NM State exits the San Diego Winter Classic 3-5 for the season after going 1-1 on the weekend. 
• The Aggies won the opening tip for just the second time this season. 
• This is the sixth contest for the Aggies this season that was decided by single digits. The only two games that haven't been in single digits was the season opener at Colorado (85-55) and the home opener against NM Highlands (80-39)
• Sylena Peterson had quite the weekend in her hometown. After dropping 16 in the Aggies win Saturday versus San Diego, Peterson dropped her first career double-double after setting career highs in points (22) and rebounds (13). 
• Peterson is the first Aggie to record a double-double Bigue Sarr dropped 12 and 15 against Stephen F. Austin back in February.
• Taylor Donaldson set a season high in rebounds (7) coming just one shy of her career high. She was also just one of three Aggies to score double figures (10). 
• Molly Kaiser was the other Aggies to score in double figures. This marks the third consecutive game she has accomplished the feature. She also added a season high four rebounds and three assists.   

Next Up

The Aggies will return home this week to prepare for their game against the New Mexico (UNM) a week from today. That game will be the second meeting between the two programs this season. Game time for that one is set for 2 p.m. (MT) from The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M.