NM State Aggies vs UTEP Miners Women’s Basketball 2-10-24

 

Unlike yesterday, today’s weather was cold, cloudy, and wet.  It seemingly cleared off when I left for the rivalry match between the Aggies and the Miners in Women’s Basketball.  Aggie Softball was also playing a double header at the same time.  (Great scheduling and its going get worse next week.  Wait for it.)  I didn’t even consider going with the rivalry game on, but since I found out softball would be on the radio, I brought mine along to listen. 

 

I was pretty sure basketball would be over by the time Game 2 would be starting.  Given the cold, I decided against making plans for it.  Also, I wanted to go to Whataburger after the game.  For the Superbowl tomorrow, dad was planning on making something in his new air fryer.  (I’m starting to regret that purchase.)  I wanted something out this weekend.  Amazingly, walking into the Pan-Am Center, there was a Whataburger display.  Attendants were guiding fans in playing a giant fry toss game and a giant onion ring toss game.  There were prizes there and probably coupons, but they were busy and I decided not to stop.  What was I thinking?

 

Instead, I stopped by the merch kiosk.  I thought I’d look for a New Mexico Bowl t-shirt.  I still felt bad that I hadn’t bought one before the game and thought there might be a couple there on discount.  There weren’t any there.         

 

I was surprised entering the arena.  All the seats were now new and crimson.  I knew this was a project they were working on, but it was cool to see it finished.  (Now, they just need to do something with the upper bowl, like more suites.)  Unfortunately, in these new seats were a large contingent of UTEP fans in orange.  Overall, it was a really good crowd at over 1,300.  There were fans in the suites.  Mrs. Hubbard was in attendance wearing a flashy silver jacket with glittering logos in on it. 

 

A fireman played the Anthem on a trumpet after the players all left the court.  Longtime UTEP Coach Keitha Adams and Coach Jody Adams shared a hug before the game.  Coach Keitha was wearing a t-shirt with a sparkling Miner pickaxe on it.  Coach Jody was wearing a crimson plaid business jacket.  On court, UTEP seemed like a tall team.  In particular, Mahri Petree looked like a baller.  I pegged that pregame observation.

 

On the radio, I was curious who would be doing the softball broadcast, as Adam Young was doing TV for this game and Jack Nixon would be doing the Men’s game tonight.  It was the El Paso Chihuahuas’ other announcer, Anthony Rifenburg.  The game between the Aggies and the Abilene Christian Wildcats was delayed slightly for cleaning the field from weather, but started about the same time as the basketball.  

First Quarter

Both teams came out firing.  2-2 and 8’ left in the quarter, Sylena Peterson found Ene Adams wide open under the basket, but she missed.  On the next trip, Molly Kaiser took two shots, but neither fell in.  4-2 Aggies, Sy and Molly tore the ball away from a Miner and got Jaila Harding a layup.  UTEP came back with a brief 4-5 lead on a 3 from Petree.  7’ Jaila got it right back with a 3, 7-5 Aggies.

 

Aggie #42 found Ene under the basket for an easy 2.  #42 then corralled 2 rebounds.  Meanwhile, I’m scanning the program.  There is no “#42” on the Aggies.  Even the scoreboard operator wasn’t identifying her correctly and her long hair was covering the name on the back of her jersey.  Eventually, scoreboard was showing “Gassama.”  Well, that name wasn’t on the program either.  I looked up later that it was Fanta Gassama.  I didn’t recognize the player, but I will in the future after how she played this afternoon.  

 

Molly was taking Purple Hearts.  5’ she took a charge.  4’ she drew another foul.  Lucia Yenes was in briefly and took one shot that missed.  During the first break, she was pulled and the coach chewed her out.  The Sundancers did a performance during the break.  As this was a TV game, these breaks ran long. 

 

The Molly Show continued as she hit a jumper, drew another foul and converted on the free throws, and found Ene for a basket, 15-7 Aggies.  Tylie Jones made a steal on Petree.  This turned into another Molly jumper.  Jaila converted a pair of free throws to make it 19-13 Aggies, which was how the quarter ended.

 

At the softball game, Riley Carley hit a 2-run homer in the first to give the Aggies the lead.  Anthony reported it was drizzling outside, but reported that the crowd was good at 200+.  I don’t entirely trust attendance figures after yesterday, but I could believe this one.    

Second Quarter

Molly was called for a block early and came out.  Sy connected with a 3 to make it 22-13.  Sianny Sanchez-Oliver made a hustle offensive rebound and got the ball to Sy for a layup, 24-14 Aggies.  Timeout UTEP.  In the break, a little girl in a Spider-Man outfit stole the show on Dance Cam.

 

5’ left in the quarter, Sy and Molly were both sitting out.  The Miners started making a bit of a comeback, Ty hit a 3 to get it back to 28-18 lead.  With a 30-20 lead, the Aggies took a timeout.

 

Back at the softball field, the Wildcats walked in a run in the second.  Jillian Taylor hit a 2-run single.  Riley hit a sac fly to make it 6-0.  Desirae Spearman then hit a no-doubt 3-run homer that nearly made it to the next door baseball field.  The Aggies went up 9-0. 

 

Back to the court, Sabou Gueye got a rebound under the basket and the put back, 32-20.  3’ UTEP hit a 3.  Ty made a hustle play to get back and break up a fast break.  Petree made a running layup.  At the other end, Jaila made a 3 as Petree pushed her into the sideline table.  Jaila made the free throw to make it 36-25.  The quarter finished 39-25 Aggies with Molly and Sylena missing most of the action.

 

Halftime

Mrs. Hubbard was on court.  They put her to work drawing a name for a $1K scholarship.  Surprise!  Pistol Pete won.  Good for you, Pete.  I noticed later, former Volleyball stars, Molly Johnson and Tatyana Battle were sitting by Mrs. Hubbard at courtside and chatting with her.  I was wondering if Molly was working there at the Press Table. 

 

A large troop of little girl cheerleaders performed.  I noticed one of the girls was using a walker.  She seemed to have some kind of MS.  After the performance, she got some help getting up the stairs, which was probably more work than the cheering.  God bless her.     

 

While the teams were warming up, the video screen was showing the team’s academic report.  Oh, oh.  Wait, it’s okay.  A bunch of the girls have a 3.0 average.  Loes Rozing actually has a 4.0.  She got a big cheer from the crowd. 

 

At the softball field, they were in the fourth.  The Wildcats had hit a home run to make it 9-1.  The Aggies had put in several reserves by this point.

 

Third Quarter

Molly and Sy were back in.  6’ left in the quarter, Molly lost the ball on a play, but stole it back, but UTEP got it right back got it down court for a layup, 41-30 Aggies.  Molly broke the Aggie drought with a pair of jumpers, 45-34.  Timeout UTEP.

 

It was now raining at softball with the wind blowing.  I was feeling really good about my decision to come here.  4’ Ene fought off two defenders for a layup.  3’ Petree came back with a layup and a foul, 47-37.  Jaila came out of the game.  The coach gave her a long talk on the sideline.  I didn’t see the cause of that.  Ene made a layup to make it 49-39 for the quarter.  Sy took a tumble afterward and came up limping, but she was okay to keep playing. 

 

In the fifth inning and trying to avoid being run-ruled, the Wildcats attempted a suicide squeeze with two on.  It was blown up.  Aggie Softball won 9-1.  The game went an hour and 24 minutes. 

 

Fourth Quarter

Molly drew a charge to start the quarter.  Right after, she tried to lobby her way out of a foul.  She put her around the female ref and chatted with her very friendly-like.  Petree hit a 3.  Sy answered with a 3, 52-42 Aggies.  8’ Fanta made a scoop shot to make it 54-42.  Timeout UTEP.

 

PA Ed announced the Softball score and got a cheer out of the crowd.  Back to play, Molly was called for a travel.  She pointed to herself, “Who?  Me?  Really?”  She put her arm around the ref, “Let’s discuss this for a moment.”  Molly may have career options with the Harlem Globetrotters or perhaps acting in general.  I’m loving it.  Molly got the ball back on a steal attempt on Petree and a jump ball.

 

More seriously, Fanta fouled out.  She left the game with 11 rebounds.  Very impressive.  4’ Molly finger-rolled one in to make it 56-46.  The Miners came back with a furious defensive set and got a steal.  They got a layup and a foul and the Miner fans piped up and got loud, 56-51.  Timeout Aggies.

 

Jaila hit a 3 coming right out of the timeout to make it, 59-51.  UTEP answered with a 3, 59-54.  The Aggie fans started chanting.  Molly popped a jumper and got everyone fired up, 61-54.  Molly was then fouled hard going for the basket.  With that, Jane Asinde fouled out for UTEP with 11 points (and was pretty intimidating at 6’2” with a bald head).  Molly made a free throw to make it 62-54 with a minute-and-a-half left.  UTEP timeout. 

 

The Miners made a 3 coming out of the break, 62-57.  Sy made a free throw after a foul, 63-57, with a minute left.  The Miners were intentionally fouling.  Petree wrapped her arms around Tylie at midcourt.  She then stood there with a look of total regret and shock on her face.  That was her fifth foul.  Mahri Petree fouled out with 18 points.  She was the high-scorer of the game.  Ty made her free throws and the game would finish 66-59 Aggies.

That was a heck of a game.  Molly Kaiser finished with 15 points, Jaila Harding with 16 points, and Ene Adams with 14 points and 12 rebounds.  This was a clutch game for the Aggies.  Their rebounding was exceptional.  They had 20 second chance points and 12 more rebounds.  You knew the Miners were going to come back at some point.  Lucky for the Aggies, the Miners lost two of their best scorers at the end.  This might be my last Women’s Basketball game of the season due to scheduling conflicts with baseball and softball (and some questionable themes for upcoming basketball games), so this was a great way to go out.

 

I ran into Tatyana on the way out and asked if she was taking good care of Mrs. Hubbard.  She was.  Game 2 for the Softball double header started before the end of the basketball game.  Des was pitching.  Anthony was giving some ominous weather reports, so I was sort of prepared before I went back outside.  It was cold and windy with nothing but dark clouds overhead.   

 

After I made it made it back to my truck, the deluge started.  I was lucky there, but I quickly abandoned the thought of going out to eat.  I made a short, nervous drive back home in the pouring rain.  It let up just after I pulled in like five minutes later.

This obviously affected the softball game.  They’d just finished the first inning.  There was no score as an Aggie runner had been thrown out at home.  The game went into a delay.  I kept the radio on for updates.  Anthony reported the grounds crew was working to make the field playable again.  (I don’t think they have a tarp.)  The girls on both teams went out to help clear the water.  He said that their uniforms were going to need heavy duty cleaning tonight with all that mud.    

  

In the third, Jillian Taylor drove in the first run.  In the fourth, Kayla Lunar tripled in 2 runs to make it 3-0.  (Myself and Anthony were confused by the Home Depot theme music being playing during an opposing pitcher change.)  Des had 10 K’s over 6 innings.  No wonder Coach Rodolph is calling her the best two-way player she’s ever seen.  The Wildcats got lots of traffic on the bases, but didn’t get anything over.

 

Laurali Patane came on in the seventh.  She let two on and one scored on a single, but Jillian threw out the trailing runner at home from centerfield.  Emily Dix came was brought in after a walk, but the game ended with Kendal Lunar throwing out a runner at third after a wild pitch.  Aggies win 3-0.  Attendance was officially 273 and, with the delay, the game went over three hours.  That was a hard won victory, mostly over the elements.

 

Finally I have to report the last Aggie game of the day.  I joined the Aggie Men’s Basketball game versus UTEP in El Paso at the half, as soon as Softball ended.  The Aggies were down and never recovered.  They lost 74-49.  I found out the Miners went up 12-0 to start the game.  The team has had some incredibly exciting victories at home this season and are 11-1 at the Pan-Am Center.  On the road, they’re 0-10.  Coach Hooten had no explanation and seemed lost.  I hope they figure it out before the end of the season. 

 

It’s pretty rare that all of the Aggie teams win on the same day.  Overall, I’m happy with the games I got to see over the last two days and just a bit disappointed about dinner.