A second half full of struggles against the New Mexico State Aggies Saturday snapped WKU Women’s Basketball’s six-game win streak 64-59.
The Lady Toppers shot just 38% from the floor in the second half, resulting in just 10 made shots. The struggles continued at the free throw line shooting 62%.
Despite the loss, four Lady Toppers scored in double figures for the second straight game. Guard Acacia Hayes led the way in her first game back in the starting lineup in two games with 14 points. Forward Destiny Salary contributed 13 points and five rebounds.
The Lady Toppers could not stop guard Molly Kaiser for NMSU as she racked up 17 points and six rebounds.
First Half
In the first quarter, neither team could get the upper hand with NMSU taking a slim 7-6 lead going into the media timeout. After going down 9-6 the Lady Toppers went on an 11-0 scoring run ending the first quarter up 17-9. Scoring came from junior guard Josie Gilvin who racked up seven first-quarter points.
The Lady Toppers continued their hot shooting in the second, outscoring NMSU 13-10 to take a 30-19 lead into the half. Hayes led the way with five second-quarter points. Despite the lead, WKU could not find an answer for Kaiser who led with 10 of her team’s 19.
Second Half
NMSU came out firing in the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run and pulling the deficit to six, 32-26. The Lady Toppers responded with a six-point scoring run of their own to put their lead back to double digits 38-28. After a media timeout, the Aggies went on a 12-5 run to end the third, down 43-40.
The Lady Toppers had no answers for NMSU as they continued their run. Going into the media timeout the Aggies took their largest lead of the game 55-49. After the media timeout, the Lady Toppers went on a 6-2 run led by Salary pulling the deficit to two, 57-55, with a minute in the game. The Lady Toppers tried getting back in the game but the second-half shooting of NMSU was too much as the Aggies snapped the Lady Toppers six game-win streak 64-59.
WKU will be back inside Diddle Arena Thursday, Feb. 6 to take on the Kennesaw State Owls.
Sports Reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at Peyton.reid502@topper.wku.edu.
