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Aggies carry momentum from their victory against FIU.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Louis Bolander
Photo: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Aggies will host two games this upcoming week as they look to take on Jax State for the second time this season when they host the Gamecocks on Thursday. Coming off a win over FIU on Saturday, NM State looks to keep its poise as it seeks a series split with the Gamecocks on Thursday at 6:00 pm MST.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- Who: NMSU (13-12, 6-6 CUSA) at Jax State (10-14, 4-9 CUSA)
- Where: Pan American Center – Las Cruces, N.M.
- When: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. MST
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
- All-Time Series Record: Jax State leads 3-0
- Last Meeting: NMSU lost 60-56 (January 25, 2025)
LAST TIME AGAINST JAX STATE
Fanta Gassama notched her fifth double double (18 points and 10 rebounds) of the season. Jax State was only able to finish 25% from the charity stripe in the final quarter. NM State was one free throw away from shooting a perfect 12-for-12 at the line. Molly Kaiser led the Aggies in scoring with 19 points against the Gamecocks.
THE PRODIGY
Molly Kaiser has spent all five seasons with the Crimson & White, making her the longest-tenured Aggie on the 2024-25 roster. The Watauga, Texas, native has over 1,700 points across her career and has moved into fifth all-time in scoring for the Aggies in program history. With 1,756 points, she’s also currently the active leader in career points among CUSA players. She now sits just 4 points shy of moving into fourth on the Aggies all-time scoring list and 24 points from third.
Three weeks ago, Kaiser was named Conference USA Player of the Week for the fourth time this season after dropping 31 points against Liberty. This marked the fourth CUSA weekly award for Kaiser, which equals the most by an Aggie in program history. This season, Kaiser has also hauled in two NCAA Starting Five accolades, which recognizes the nation’s top five performers each week.
Kaiser sits at ninth in the nation in points per game (21.7) and 11th in total points (543). Including her 30-point outing against UTEP two weeks ago, Kaiser is also responsible for the five of the seven highest scoring performances in league play this season.
LAST TIME OUT…
Three separate Aggies scored in double figures against the Panthers to lead NM State to a 65-55 road victory over FIU. The win was fueled by a defensive effort which forced 19 turnovers and allowed the Aggies 24 points off turnovers. Additionally, the Aggie bench vcontributed 18 points led by a pair of 7-point effort from both Madi Gewirtz and Sylena Peterson.
Against the Panthers, two Aggies shot completely perfect at the stripe (Kaiser, 4-4 ; Gewirtz, 2-2). Madi Gewirtz also picked up her career high in rebounds, cleaning the glass seven separate times (three offensive and four defensive).
Both Loes Rozing (3-for-6) and Jaila Harding (4-for-8) finished the game shooting 50% from the floor.
SCOUTING JAX STATE
Leading the Gamecocks in his 11th season at Jax State as head coach is Rick Pietri. In his coaching career at JSU, Pietri has notched 161 wins at the helm of the Gamecocks program.
The Gamecocks currently sit with a 4-9 record in the conference standings and are coming off a home win LA Tech.
Leading Jax State in scoring this season is Bre’Anna Rhodes who averages 8.4 points per game.
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