LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- The Chicago State Cougars fell 77-54 to New Mexico State on Saturday, as the Aggies extended their winning streak to 13 games inside the Pan American Center.
New Mexico State opened up the contest with a 7-2 lead early after a three pointer at the 7:12 mark. However, the Cougars then went on a 12-5 run to lead 14-12 with 2:33 to play in the first. The Aggies answered back and took over a 16-14 lead after back-to-back scores, but Chicago State scored the quarter's final four points off jumpers from
Ines Mata Boix (Madrid, Spain/) and
Tamara Olverson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) to lead 18-16 after one.
NM State scored the second quarter's first-eight points and led 24-18 with 5:36 to play until the half. Chicago State then pulled within three at 24-21 after
Tyeshia Bowers (Flint, Mich./Southwestern) drove through the lane to sink the layup and the and-one basket. As the Cougars inched closer, the Aggies pulled off back-to-back buckets to regain a 28-21 lead.
The Cougars struggled to find their groove in the second, as the Aggies held CSU to just 2-16 shooting from the field, while shooting 50 percent themselves.
Opening up the second half, Chicago State matched NM State's scoring efforts, as each team netted 20 points in the third quarter. The Cougars pulled within 10 points at 43-33 with 5:32 in the period, off a quick bucket from Olverson followed by a defensive rebound by Mata Boix that led to a fastbreak layup for
Tiana Thomas (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah). CSU pulled as close as eight points within its opponent, when Mata Boix pulled up with a mid-range jumper with 2:45 left on the clock. However, eight points was as close as the Cougars would get as the Aggies shot nearly 51 percent over the second half to pull away with a 77-54 victory.
Mata Boix finished with a double-double on the night, tallying 17 points and grabbing 16 boards. Olverson also had an impressive showing, draining 16 points of her own.
CSU returns to action on Saturday in the regular season finale against Kansas City. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.
