Thursday, November 9, 2023

NM State Aggies vs AZ Wildcats Women's Basketball 11-6-23


Molly Kaiser on the cover.

Once again, I’m sorry I missed the Aggie Women’s Basketball team’s debut exhibition last week.  I was there tonight for their first official game against the Arizona Wildcats.  By strange coincidence, the Men’s team was also playing their first game against the Wildcats, but in their case a road game versus #16 Kentucky.  I took my radio with me to listen to that game.  (The Women are only on ESPN+ all season.) 

 

Speaking of the radio, I was listening to El Paso Sports Talk before I left.  They broke the story that a couple more Men’s Basketball players from last season are suing their former teammates for assault and the university for not disciplining them.  After the payout those other players got, some others are looking for their payout.  And this drops on the first day of the season.  Probably not a coincidence.  I don’t know if AD Mario Moccia survives this, since this time he’s named in this suit.         

 

Inside the Pan-Am Center, I noticed the Roadrunner Revue band was now located at the top of the Student Section, instead of by the court.  The seats in that former area have been replaced and upgraded, as all the court level seats have been.  The team was on court warming up.  (I got there way early.)  Lucia Yenes was in a leg brace.  She was shooting around, but did not play during the game.  (I’m looking forward to seeing her play more.)  About half of the team were returners from last season.  The team finished up and clapped in sync with the band as the band played them out and off the court.    

 

There was a great crowd tonight of nearly 1,300 and there was a happy buzz in the air.  On either side of me were special sections.  One was filled with mostly young women who were guests of Tresco, a local family aid organization.  On the other side was a Greek section with another bunch of young women.  Those seats all had t-shirts on them for them to wear.  There were posterboards and crayons available up front for sign-making.  Several fans used them and were waving them during the game.  If you can believe it, Arizona actually brought a little girls team with them.  They were seated behind their bench and cheering for them.  A couple of the suites were also occupied.

 

What I was more interested in were some of the Volleyball team that came to the game.  Once again, I’m just going single out my favorite, Maggie Lightheart.  She came in late wearing a halter top and tight blue jeans.  Her stunning presence was definitely taking away from my scorekeeping efforts.  (They did give out scorecards tonight.  I never gave up, but my accuracy got worse as the game went on.)  Members of the Softball team were seated below Volleyball and some of the Football team was across from them. 

 

AZ came out to warmup.  Pistol Pete came out with a trumpet and played the Anthem.  It was brilliant.  (He walked by later.  I tried to tell him he was great, but I don’t think he heard me over the crowd.)  The Wildcats stayed on court and at attention for it.  The Aggies were still back in the back in the locker room.  That was a win for AZ.

 

Aggie Coach Jody Adams was dressed fairly conservatively in a suit, but with some bling on the back of the jacket.  AZ Coach Adia Barnes was hot as heck.  I nearly changed sides rooting.  She had long, dark hair and was wearing a tight black t-shirt (showcasing her . . . ahem) and loose red leather pants.  Hot.  I looked for a picture to post, but apparently she lost a bunch of weight before this season.  Good for her.  I don’t think there are any good recent pictures of her.            

 

First Quarter

Well, let’s make the usual excuse that I’m out of practice covering basketball games.  I also wasn’t expecting this to be much of a game.  I was wrong about that, but not in the first quarter.  Both teams started off shaky, as you’d expect for their first official game.  They both turned it over on their first possession. 

 

The Aggies were showing some good defense, but turning it over.  AZ got into foul trouble early, but the Aggies weren’t getting good looks.  5 minutes in, it was only 6-1 AZ.  From there, the Aggies could not find the basket with the ball after several shots.  With 4 minutes left, they went down 10-1. 

 

I vacated my seat before the game and offered the row a family that had sat down below me in the first row of the upper bowl.  The railing was blocking their kids seeing the game.  During the first quarter, their littlest girl slipped in her seat and hit her head.  Poor thing.  Mom was right there with a hug. 

 

Sylena Peterson took a shot to the face with the Aggies already in the bonus and she converted both free throws.  Sabou Guye finally got the Aggies’ first field goal with 2 minutes left.  That was the only one of the quarter, as Molly Kaiser missed a last second 3 attempt.  19-6 AZ after 10 minutes.

 

Second Quarter

Some of the Football team came out of court to be honored for becoming bowl eligible over the weekend.  Our old friend, Shiyazh Pete was with them.  The guys on court weren’t the ones sitting by the Volleyball team.  I’m not sure where they came from and why they weren’t all out there together.  Meanwhile with Volleyball team, Morgan Stewart rotated her arms when a ref called a travel.  She was sort of into the game.

 

The Aggies finally started hitting.  3 minutes in, Sylena made a good pass to Ene Adams under the basket for a bucket to make it 21-10 AZ.  Sy then found Sabou right after for a layup.  Tylie Jones made a layup.  Molly hit an open jumper and it was 23-16 with 6 minutes left.  AZ took a timeout.

 

The band played Tank! from Cowboy Bebop in the break.  There was a t-shirt toss to the crowd.  Rilen Garcia from Volleyball got a shirt and I don’t think she was even waving for one.  In the next section, there was a near riot with the Football players trying to get one. 

 

Back to play, a ball was knocked into the fans sitting at the courtside table.  The ref and Sy asked the fans if they were okay.  The ref then checked the ball carefully to see if it was okay.  On the possession, Sylena got blocked and knocked out of bounds for a turnover.  On the next trip, the ball got loose on the floor twice.  Out of the scramble, Sabou came up with it for a layup, 24-18 AZ. 

 

Wildcat Maya Nnaji came right back with a 3 for AZ.  3 minutes left, Molly cut into the lane for a layup to make it 28-20.  Back on possession, Sabou was blocked on a shot and also picked up a foul on the play.  Jaila picked it up with a big 3 to make it 30-23 with 2 minutes left.  Molly got a steal with a minute left, but Aggies turned the ball right over.  Tylie then got hammered into the court going for a layup.  Wildcat Kailyn Gilbert hit an AZ 3 right before the half.  35-23 AZ.      

 

Halftime

It was 37-29 Kentucky at the half at the Aggie Men’s game.  I’d been listening this game the whole time and not absorbed any of it.  I didn’t know the players on either team, as the Aggies were all new.

 

The Cheerleaders performed at the half.  The Greek girls stood up in their section got a group photograph.  The Volleyball and Softball girls also got a group photo with the Aggie staff photographer. 

 

Third Quarter

The Cheerleaders handed out hats right before play started.  Below me, a dad holding his little toddler girl got one and put it on her head.  It was so cute. 

 

2 minutes in, Sylena grabbed a rebound and hit Sabou for a layup, 38-25 AZ.  Molly then came up with a steal (or a rebound officially) and found Jaila for an open 3, but it ended up being a turnover.  Sabou and Jaila came back with layups.  About halfway through the quarter, it was 38-29 AZ and they took a timeout.

 

Emoji Cam terrorized the audience in the break.  When it found the Volleyball team, half made faces and the other half dove for cover.  (How could somebody who performs on a court in front of a crowd be afraid of a camera?)  4 minutes left, Tylie banked in a 3, 42-32 AZ.  Wildcat Esmery Martinez made a steal and a layup to put AZ up 46-32.  Sianny Sanchez-Oliver answered with a 3 and earned a Purple Heart taking a charge.  It was 46-35 AZ going into the final quarter.

 

Fourth Quarter

There was this beautiful girl with long dark hair down by the floor that seemed to get in on every souvenir toss into the crowd.  I noticed this because she kept running up to her parents nearby me to show or give the items to them.  It was a worthwhile evening at basketball for her.

 

Wildcat Kailyn Gilbert started with the quarter with a 3.  After a rebound by Ene, Sianny found Loes Rozing downcourt on a break for a quick layup, 49-37 AZ.  2 minutes in, there was a scrum under the basket for a rebound after missed AZ free throw.  No fighting, though.  They were just playing hard.

 

After an AZ 3, Molly answered with a 3.  This got the crowd into.  Surprisingly, mostly everyone was still there and engaged.  3 minutes in, the Aggie defense held AZ to a shot clock violation.  Molly drained another 3, 55-47 AZ.  6’ left, Ene picked up her fourth foul and came out.  The crowd didn’t like the call.

        

5 minutes left, Molly drained another 3.  The Fire Department arrived on scene, but she waived them off.  She then hit a fade away with 3 minutes left and actually fell flat on the floor.  (She was fine.)  With a minute left, Sy got a steal on a ball that went off several players.  Sabou then got the ball on a fast break and was fouled.  She converted her throws, 64-52 AZ. 

 

With under minute, Molly wasn’t done.  She converted on a couple of free throws and made another 3 on the Aggies’ last possession.  AZ held the ball for their last possession and the crowd boo’d as the seconds ran out.  Our final was 68-57 Arizona

 

Everyone seemed in a good mood afterward.  The Aggies played pretty well against a good team.  I think Coach Adams could have called for some intentional fouling and taking timeouts at the end, but were too far off.  They couldn’t stop AZ’s scoring early in the quarter, which would have gotten them to that place.  In any case, it was reasonably classy of the Coach to not drag it out. 

 

The team continued their tradition of going around the court to greet the fans.  Ryleigh Whitekettle, Peyton Castillo, and Aspen Aldous from the Volleyball team all stayed to the end.  They gave the basketball girls a hug when they came by.  Meanwhile on the radio, the Men lost to Kentucky 86-46.  They had problems in the second half.  Jack Nixon reported that Kentucky had 13 steals and a bunch of points off those turnovers.  The team only had 8 guys playing with the rest of the team having eligibility issues.  Jack did give an update on the Women’s game before the end.   

 

Molly Kaiser was the star of the game with 22 points, including going 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, and 6 rebounds.  Sabou Gueye had 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 steals.  For AZ, Kailyn Gilbert led with 16 points, Maya Nnaji had 15, and 6’4” Breya Cunningham had 12 points, 5 blocks, and 10 rebounds.

 

In stats, the Aggies up 12 to 10 in steals.  AZ led in rebounds, 29-24.  AZ had more turnovers, 26-23.  In free throws, the Aggies were 12 of 18 and AZ was 5 of 11.  The big difference was in shooting.  AZ field goals were 29 of 59 for 42% and 5 of 20 in 3-pointers.  The Aggies were 19 of 55, for 34%, and 7 of 15 in 3-pointers.

 

Honestly looking at the stats, this wasn’t a terrible loss.  If the Aggies hadn’t started off so slow, they would have had a chance.  I thought going into this game that the Aggies might have a chance.  In this first official game, if they were sufficiently sharp enough, the Aggies might catch the Wildcats a little disorganized.  Indeed, AZ’s second exhibition game before this game, they beat a school I’d never heard of by only 8 points.  (Point Loma University?  They’re DII.) 

 

During the game, I was looking around for a co-worker who said she was planning on going, but I didn’t see her.  I almost left without my jacket and had to run back for it.  On the way out with most everyone gone, I randomly ran into her and her husband.  I said I was surprised she didn’t bring a laptop to the game to keep working.  She said her boss had texted her earlier looking for a file.  She told him, she was off for the evening.

 

Lastly, I held the door for Mrs. Moccia and her daughters, who were about the last to leave with us.  They didn’t seem happy.  I don’t know if it was the game or the lawsuit.  I was reasonably pleased going to the game tonight.  There probably won’t be as many people, but I’m looking forward to the next game in a couple of weeks.


Aggie Women's Basketball huddled up.

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