LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Molly Kaiser continued her impressive offensive streak, pouring in an efficient team-high 17 points to lead NM State to their first victory in the Pan American Center in 2023-24. The Aggies won 57-38 for their largest margin of victory this season, improving to 2-2 overall. Portland State fell to 2-2 after posting their fewest points in a game this season. 

First Quarter

The Aggies held the Vikings to six points in the opening 10 minutes, the fewest by any opponent in any quarter this season. PSU shot 3-11 and missed all four of their attempts from behind the line. Molly Kaiser tallied seven of the Aggies' 13 points, including hitting her lone three-point attempt. NM State took a seven-point lead into the second quarter.

Second Quarter

The two sides went even in the second quarter, scoring 15 apiece. The Vikings scored more than 10 points in only the second quarter, sparked by Esmeralda Morales dropping nine of her game-high 19 points on just five field goal attempts in the frame. For the Aggies, Lucia Yenes scored her first points this season after returning from an ACL injury, hitting both of her shots from the field in the second 10 minutes. Jaila Harding added five points, including a three-pointer that started the Aggies' 7-0 run to take a 28-21 halftime lead. 

Third Quarter

Molly Kaiser left her fingerprints all over the third quarter on both sides of the ball. On just four field goals, she racked up eight points, and poked away three balls for steals. She added in two rebounds and was a +9 in nine minutes. No other Aggie scored more than two points, but they didn't need to in order to pull further ahead. The Vikings dropped in just one of their 10 field goals in the quarter, and scored just seven points. The Aggies took a 13-point lead into the final stanza. 

Fourth Quarter

Eight different Aggies all scored two points apiece in the fourth quarter, as part of a 16-10 quarter that went in NM State's favor. After PSU cut the lead to as close as six mid-way through the third, the Aggies went on a 15-minute, 27-14 run, holding the Vikings to less than a point per minute. Sabou Gueye picked up her third and final steal of the game, continuing her impressive defensive start to the 2023-24 campaign. The junior guard has a team-high 13 steals, averaging 3.3 per game.

Up Next

The Aggies will head to Brooklyn for the LIU Classic. They will play back-to-back days, starting with Hampton on Friday, Nov. 24. They'll turn around the next day to take on CSU Bakersfield. Hampton is 0-2 on the season, but will square off with Norfolk State before the LIU Classic. CSU Bakersfield sits at 1-2 in 2023-24, coming off a two-point win over Fresno State. 

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