Kicking off the first 2025–2026 New Mexico State University basketball home game with a Veterans Day double-feature, the Aggies faced the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls on Nov. 11.
As NMSU notched the first few points on the board, last year’s 18-16 overall record and 10-8 conference record, under Head Coach Jody Adams, ushered in a new sense of competitiveness in the Pan American Center.
“I feel they’re not scared of any competition, you know, they’ll just go out there with Coach Jody’s game plan and then just execute it to the best they can,” Sylena Peterson, former Aggie women’s basketball player, said.
As the Aggies got ahold of the lead early, sustaining a comfortable 10-6 advantage halfway through the first quarter, as well as snatching a lead before the Cowgirls took the first timeout and sat tied with NMSU at two fouls.
NMHU’s Kapiolani Anitielu dominated scoring efforts for the Cowgirls, achieving all eight points that the Cowgirls pinned up before the first buzzer, leaving the score at 8-18. As for NMSU, guard Imani Warren led scoring for the Aggies with a total of eight points, trailed closely by Anna Csenyi with five.
With the next 10 minutes starting its countdown, the second quarter quickly gave rise to an appealed call debating an out-of-bounds ball, leading NMSU to gain control of the ball early, and clinging onto their lead at 30-15 at the halfway point of quarter two.
Going into halftime with a 38-28 Aggie lead, the Cowgirls successfully closed in the score to a 10-point difference after showing some ferocious determination toward New Mexico State.
“It’s so early in the season and we are nowhere close to the team we want to be on both sides of the ball,” Head Coach Jody Adams said. “We are excited about the small wins in a game like this and want to stack productive practices together to keep growing.”
Coming back to the court carrying the same fire as before, NMSU guard Emma Christiano, who played previously for New Mexico Highlands, locked in the first few points of the second half.
At the start of the game, the Aggies held a strong shooting advantage and posted a 50% free-throw percentage to the Cowgirls’ 25%, and a 56% field-goal percentage to their 33%. By the end of the game, the Aggies’ field-goal percentage dropped slightly to 53%, but still held triumphant to NMHU’s 32%, also finishing with an impressive 85% from the free-throw line.
With the clock ticking down to the third buzzer of the night, the Aggies upheld their lead at 50-33 at the halfway mark of the quarter. As NMSU faced some definite pushback from the Cowgirls, fouls reached another tie at 5-5, mounting pressures as the game continued.
Reaching the final quarter with a 20-point score difference, fans throughout the stadium stayed electric, booming along with the band and maintaining the signature Aggie atmosphere fit for the occasion.
“We support the men’s and the women’s basketball teams all the time,” alumni Mr. and Mrs. Eric Sanchez said. “We love the Aggies!”
As the Cowgirls gave their final push toward catching up, defenses and offenses straining on both teams, the Aggies roped in a win at a final score of 78-61.
“I’m grateful that it is early on in the season and we have practice, and this non-conference schedule to continue to grow as a team,” Coach Adams said.
New Mexico State Women’s basketball will return at home on Sunday, Nov. 16 in a showdown against the University of New Mexico Lobos.
![Group leaders [left to right] Jacarthie Brazil, Kira Baum, Carter-Elise Keating, and Abby Watkins pose for a picture after a successful interview. April 21, 2026.](https://nmsuroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/01_AnnaB_Health-Club_LowRes.jpg)
