LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Seattle University women's basketball dominated early, but could not hang on at New Mexico State, as the Aggies claimed an 83-65 contest on Saturday. Kamira Sanders finished with 25 points and a career-high-tying seven steals in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) game at the Pan-American Center.
"Gia Pack played a phenomenal game and lifted her teammates to earn the win," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "Kamira worked to do the same for us, but we couldn't get anyone else going to provide additional scoring support."
The Redhawks (7-11, 1-4 WAC) came out firing at the start of the contest. Courtney Murphy swished a three to beat the shot-clock buzzer and then Joana Alves hit a jumper to make it 5-all at the 8:16 mark. Olivia Crawford's pull-up jumper put SU ahead and later it was a Chinwe Ezeonu post move that resulted in a basket for a 10-8 margin. After an Aggie hoop, Sanders sank a trey, made a steal, and scored again for a 15-10 difference with 4:32 left in the opening period.
The burst continued with an Alves triple from the wing. The hosts scored, but Crawford converted a pair of free throws and then McKenzi Williams came up with a steal to set up another Sanders lay-in with four seconds remaining. Sanders got her hands on another pass and was fouled shooting a three in the final second of the frame. The senior stepped to the stripe and connected on all three attempts, making it 25-12 at the end of the quarter.
Two more Sanders hoops stretched the lead to 17 points early in the second period. The Aggies responded, though, as Pack looked to carry the home side. Williams drove and scored through contact, but NMSU chipped away at its deficit. A Georgia Kehoe score made it 33-19 with 5:33 left in the half, but NM State answered with seven straight points. Sanders found Murphy open, where the sophomore cashed in from long range for a 36-26 advantage. Pack scored seven points down the stretch, with a Leilani Peat layup SU's lone source of offense. Through 20 minutes, the Redhawks maintained a 38-33 lead.
Sanders and Alves both split two foul shots early in the third, but NM State continued its run of strong play, grabbing a 41-40 edge on a Pack layup. Sanders made 3-4 free throws and then Williams pulled down an offensive rebound and nailed a three for a 46-45 lead at the 4:28 mark. The hosts gained an eight-point lead after that before a Crawford jumper stemmed the run. A late Sanders jumper trimmed the deficit, but NMSU took a 62-51 advantage into the fourth frame.
The Aggies pulled away in the fourth, as Pack controlled the action as time ran out on any SU hopes of a rally.
Sanders totaled 25 points, shooting 9-11 at the foul line. She matched her career high with seven steals, equaling her total from her game against NMSU on Jan. 18, 2018. Sanders added four assists and four rebounds on Saturday. Alves recorded nine points and 11 rebounds, while Murphy added eight points and five boards. Pack paced NM State with 30 points and 19 rebounds.
The Redhawks return home for five of their next six games, starting with Thursday's WAC game against Grand Canyon. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.
"Gia Pack played a phenomenal game and lifted her teammates to earn the win," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "Kamira worked to do the same for us, but we couldn't get anyone else going to provide additional scoring support."
The Redhawks (7-11, 1-4 WAC) came out firing at the start of the contest. Courtney Murphy swished a three to beat the shot-clock buzzer and then Joana Alves hit a jumper to make it 5-all at the 8:16 mark. Olivia Crawford's pull-up jumper put SU ahead and later it was a Chinwe Ezeonu post move that resulted in a basket for a 10-8 margin. After an Aggie hoop, Sanders sank a trey, made a steal, and scored again for a 15-10 difference with 4:32 left in the opening period.
The burst continued with an Alves triple from the wing. The hosts scored, but Crawford converted a pair of free throws and then McKenzi Williams came up with a steal to set up another Sanders lay-in with four seconds remaining. Sanders got her hands on another pass and was fouled shooting a three in the final second of the frame. The senior stepped to the stripe and connected on all three attempts, making it 25-12 at the end of the quarter.
Two more Sanders hoops stretched the lead to 17 points early in the second period. The Aggies responded, though, as Pack looked to carry the home side. Williams drove and scored through contact, but NMSU chipped away at its deficit. A Georgia Kehoe score made it 33-19 with 5:33 left in the half, but NM State answered with seven straight points. Sanders found Murphy open, where the sophomore cashed in from long range for a 36-26 advantage. Pack scored seven points down the stretch, with a Leilani Peat layup SU's lone source of offense. Through 20 minutes, the Redhawks maintained a 38-33 lead.
Sanders and Alves both split two foul shots early in the third, but NM State continued its run of strong play, grabbing a 41-40 edge on a Pack layup. Sanders made 3-4 free throws and then Williams pulled down an offensive rebound and nailed a three for a 46-45 lead at the 4:28 mark. The hosts gained an eight-point lead after that before a Crawford jumper stemmed the run. A late Sanders jumper trimmed the deficit, but NMSU took a 62-51 advantage into the fourth frame.
The Aggies pulled away in the fourth, as Pack controlled the action as time ran out on any SU hopes of a rally.
Sanders totaled 25 points, shooting 9-11 at the foul line. She matched her career high with seven steals, equaling her total from her game against NMSU on Jan. 18, 2018. Sanders added four assists and four rebounds on Saturday. Alves recorded nine points and 11 rebounds, while Murphy added eight points and five boards. Pack paced NM State with 30 points and 19 rebounds.
The Redhawks return home for five of their next six games, starting with Thursday's WAC game against Grand Canyon. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.