LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State hosted I-25 rival New Mexico on Sunday afternoon at the Pan American Center in what served as the lone matchup between the two programs this season. Ultimately, the Lobos (4-1) shot 54% from the field to defeat the Aggies (1-2) by a score of 77-45.
 
Following a few empty possessions for NM State, Emma Christiano got the Aggies on the board with a floater at the 7:44 mark. Moments later, Lucía Yenes found Lucia Lara in the paint for an uncontested layup, erasing a 4-0 start by the visiting Lobos. This energy from Christiano and Lara is exactly what Head Coach Jody Adams was looking for as both Aggies made their first starts of the young season.
 
The following three points would come by way of free throws from Yenes, giving the Aggies an early 7-4 advantage at the midway point of the opening quarter. This would serve as a theme during the first 10 minutes of action as nine of the 21 total first-quarter points came from the charity stripe, while the squads combined to shoot 6-28 (21.4%) from the field. Although, the Aggies' Lara did hit a long pull-up jumper with under a minute on the clock to give the home side a one-point edge entering the second quarter.
 
NM State would later find itself in a hole as New Mexico went on an extended 20-2 run to put the Aggies down 30-13 with two minutes remaining in the quarter. Finally, a floater off the backboard from Emma Christiano would end a seven-minute scoring drought for the Crimson & White. However, the offensive burst would continue for the Lobos as they scored the final eight points of the half to enter the break with a 38-15 lead.
 
Following a couple of early free throws from Loes Rozing, New Mexico's offense picked up where it left off as the visitors eventually went on a 14-0 run to move the margin to 36 points. A jump shot from Marta Guilera put an end to the run to make the score 57-23 with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter. Guilera would ultimately be responsible for the Aggies' final four points of the quarter, but UNM would hold a 36-point lead entering the final 10 minutes of action.
 
Despite the Aggies registering their best offensive output in the fourth quarter, New Mexico maintained its separation, going on to win the game 77-45.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• Despite a rough night from the field (4-17), Lucia Yenes led the Aggies in points on Sunday afternoon, tallying 11 points along with eight rebounds. In all three contests this season, the senior forward has posted double-digit scoring outputs. Last season, Yenes had five such performances in 33 games played.
• Las Cruces native Emma Christiano was the most effective Aggie on the offensive end, notching 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting, adding three assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals. This became Christiano's single-game high in points as an Aggie, and her first double-digit performance since November 9, 2024, as a member of New Mexico Highlands.
• For the second consecutive game, Lucia Lara posted a new career high in points, finishing with eight, pulling down eight boards in the process.
• NM State closed the game shooting just 2-for-14 from the 3-point line, their fewest makes in a contest since March 9, 2024, converting on just one 3-pointer in a win over FIU.
• In the loss, the Aggies forced 23 Lobo turnovers, compared to 19 for the Crimson & White – a new season low.
• Tallying three blocks on the night, the Aggies have out-blocked their opponents twice in three games – doing so just four times in 33 tries last season.

 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Jody Adams, on the matchup with New Mexico: "Michael [Bradbury, Head Coach at UNM] has found and brought in some very talented NIL pieces and they have a very deep bench. If we improved our finishing at the rim today, I think it would have put us in a better position going into the fourth quarter.
 
The game plan provided us open shots. We just have to settle in and make those shots. As the head coach, a game like this is your best teacher, and it's our job as a program to learn and grow in practice. Our practices and reps of the shots we will get in a game are extremely important!"
 
The Aggie women will have over a week off before returning to action on Monday, Nov. 24, when they travel to the West Coast to take on San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. MT with the game streaming live on ESPN+ and live stats available at nmstatesports.com/stats.
 
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