by LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State women’s basketball team extended its home winning-streak to 15 games on Tuesday as the Aggies rolled past Southern Utah, 74-60, behind Tyler Ellis‘ career-high 14 points.
The win also moved NM State to 4-0 on the year, matching its best start since the 2007-08 season when the Aggies started 4-0 as well.
Ellis was very efficient off the bench, shooting 6-for-6 from the floor with five rebounds in just nine minutes of action.
The Aggies struggled early on to start the game, shooting 1-for-11 in the first six minutes of action before the rally in the second half.
“To send a message,” said head coach Mark Trakh when asked about him pulling all five starters during that scoring drought in the first quarter. “The second group is talented, but they’re young. I had to put the starters back in. We’ve got some talented kids, but they’re young. They’re going to help us down the road, but it’s just the experience and speed of the game.”
Trailing 25-15 just 2:24 into the second quarter, it was NM State’s defense that once again sparked its offense.
“I think every game our defense is what gets us going,” said senior guard Abby Scott (Warm Springs Tribe). “I feel like a lot of people don’t credit enough how much our defense disrupts other teams. I feel like it picks up for a lot of minor mistakes we may make on the defensive end.”
Brooke Salas opened up the 24-6 run for NM State with a 15-foot jumper followed by a steal and breakaway layup from Shanice Davis, who tied Ellis with a game-high 14 points.
The Aggies outscored the Thunderbirds 28-14 in the second frame to take a 39-31 lead into the break.
Tamera William, who brought down a career-high 10 rebounds last game, had eight just in the first half alone before setting a new career-high in rebounds with 13 by the end of the night.
Salas extended the Aggie lead to 41-31 just 11 seconds into the second half, but Southern Utah (0-4) slowly chipped away at the Aggie lead and brought it within 48-46 with 4:13 left in the third quarter.
Ellis, however, came in off the bench and squashed any hopes of an SUU comeback. The 6-2 junior took it upon herself late in the third frame, scoring 10 of NM State’s last 15 points to give the Aggies a 59-51 lead going into the final 10 minutes of action.
SUU’s Jamie Smith, who finished with 18 points, and Jessica Richardson, who had a game-high 21 points, did everything they could to keep the Thunderbirds within striking distance knocking down perimeter shots and scoring in the paint.
Try as they might, timely 3-pointers from Abby Scott – who was 3-of-4 from downtown before ending the night 3-of-7 – and Shanice Davis late in the quarter put the game away for NM State.
NM State’s finished the night 27-of-69 from the floor and 12-of-17 from the line. The Aggies’ bench outscored Southern Utah’s bench 29-9 and held a 22-14 edge in points in the point.
