Kaiser runs away with 32 points in the Aggies’ second straight win over UTEP.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Michael Navarette
Photo By Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women’s basketball team (9-7, 2-1 CUSA) faced the UTEP Miners in the first 1-10 rivalry matchup for the season. The Aggies paced the game and grabbed the win, 65-49.
A slow start for the Aggies would allow the visiting Miners to jump out to a 7-3 lead before back-to-back threes from Jaila Harding and Molly Kaiser would put the Aggies ahead by one point with just under five minutes to play. The pair of triples would be two of four 3-pointers that the Aggies would make during a first quarter in which the Aggies did not make a two-point field goal. Despite the scoring woes, the Aggies’ defense would allow them to hold a two-point lead after 10 minutes of action as NM State created 10 points off of seven UTEP turnovers.
Following a UTEP layup that tied the game at 13, Sianny Sanchez-Oliver got the second-quarter scoring going with a transition layup through contact. This would kick start a 12-4 scoring run for the Aggies that was capped off with yet another 3-pointer from Sylena Peterson. After two UTEP free throws, NM State would rattle off a 10-0 to close the quarter. This stretch would conclude with a big-time three from Diarrah Sissoko as the final seconds of the half ticked away. In the opening half, the Aggies finished with 18 points off of 15 UTEP turnovers. Additionally, the Aggies drained seven triples while holding the Miners to zero made three-pointers. This would help fuel a second quarter in which the Aggies outscored UTEP 22-8 to take a 35-19 into the break.
Senior Molly Kaiser served as the Aggies’ catalyst to start the third quarter as she tallied five of the Aggies’ first seven points to help NM State maintain a 16-point cushion five minutes into the period. UTEP would later close the quarter on a 10-4 run to put within 10 entering the final 10 minutes.
The visiting Miners would score the opening bucket of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the 1:10 mark of the second quarter. NM State’s Kaiser would respond with a 5-0 run by herself over the next two minutes – giving the Aggies a 13-point advantage with 6:43 to play. With two minutes left on the clock in the last quarter, expiring time would lead the Miners to the foul game over NM State. A pair of dagger free throws from Sianny Sanchez-Oliver secured the final seconds of play in the Aggies’ victory.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- With her highest season performance, Diarrah Sissoko put up 11 points over the Miners with a 4-of-8 field goal finish.
- Molly Kaiser drops 32 points in I-10 showdown, and adds a third 30 point mark finish this season alone.
- Fanta Gassama grabbed 12 boards to tally up with the Aggies’ 28 rebounds and picked up four steals in the process to protect the Aggies’ basket on the defensive end.
- The Aggies led in this game’s overall steals (10-4), assists (12-7), field goals made (18-22), and free throws collected(13-11) over UTEP.
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