NMSU overcomes late deficit for 20th win
With 2:26 minutes left to play, junior Moriah Mack single-handedly propelled the NM State women’s basketball team past Utah Valley, 59-53, on Saturday for the program’s 20th win of the season and 11th-straight win.
Mack, who finished with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting and seven rebounds, started NM State’s 13-2 in the final 2:26 with seven-straight points.
“Today was a gut check for our girls and they responded well,” said head coach Mark Trakh. “There comes a game where you have no business winning, but they found a way to win. I’m very proud of the girls.”
The San Antonio, Texas, product was also a major key on the defensive end for NM State (20-3, 9-0), forcing many of the turnovers down the stretch to help the Aggies convert 10 Utah Valley turnovers into 17 points.
UVU only had two points off turnovers in the fourth and was leading in that category, 15-11, heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
“Moriah just found a way to win for us today,” said Trakh. “She did everything for us down the stretch, on defense and on offense.”
Sasha Weber also finished with 15 points, going 5-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-4 from deep to go with four steals and four boards. Brianna Freeman chipped in with a dozen points of her own with three boards, two blocks and two steals.
NM State now returns home to the friendly confines of the Pan American Center on Saturday , Feb. 13, to square off against Chicago State at 2 p.m. (MT). Saturday ‘s game will serve as the annual “Pink” game for the Aggies as part of the Play 4 Kay initiative.
