Sat Mar 22 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Aggies Head to WNIT, Eyeing First Tournament Win
**Stockton, CA** – The New Mexico State (NMSU) Aggies women’s basketball team will begin their postseason journey in the first round of the 2025 Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). They face a familiar opponent, the Pacific Tigers, on Thursday, March 20th, at 7:00 p.m. MDT in Stockton, California’s Alex G. Spanos Center.
This matchup marks a rematch of a December game, which Pacific won 67-62. The Aggies, boasting a 17-15 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Conference USA (CUSA), are led by the prolific Molly Kaiser. Kaiser, a fifth-year senior, recently earned CUSA Player of the Year honors and was named to the All-Conference team. She’s currently third all-time in NMSU scoring history, just 52 points shy of second place, and is averaging an impressive 20.5 points per game (17th nationally). Her 657 total points this season rank 13th nationally.
The Aggies’ success also stems from a strong team effort. Fanta Gassama has recorded eight double-doubles this season, while Jaila Harding is shooting 38% from three-point range in conference play. The team excels defensively, ranking third in CUSA in steals per game (9.67) and second in turnovers forced per game (19.2) against conference opponents.
NMSU’s roster features a mix of experienced upperclassmen and international talent. Eleven upperclassmen, including nine seniors, contribute to the team’s 50 combined seasons of experience. Seven players hail from international backgrounds, including four from Spain.
Head Coach Jody Adams, with a notable coaching history including NCAA Tournament appearances at Murray State and Wichita State, hopes to guide the Aggies to their first-ever WNIT victory. The Tigers, coached by Bradley Davis, finished seventh in their conference this season. Their leading scorer, Liz Smith, averages 14.3 points per game. The Aggies are looking to make history and advance past the first round of the WNIT for the first time.
First Piper 