Lady Toppers comeback falls short against New Mexico State

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The WKU Lady Toppers (15-12, 6-6 CUSA) fell on the road 64-61 to New Mexico State, securing the season sweep for the Aggies. The Lady Toppers made a rally in the 4th quarter but ultimately fell, dropping its fourth game in the last six outings.

Alexis Mead led WKU in scoring with 17 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals. Mead surpassed 900 career points in the game and now has 906 points in her three seasons on The Hill.

The Aggies (11-13, 5-6 CUSA) opened the game on a 5-0 run that stopped with a layup from Faustino. After a three from New Mexico State, Josie Gilvin connected from long range and Mead made a bucket to cut the lead down to one. The Aggies responded with a 7-0 run. Faustino made good on 1-of-2 from the free throw line just before the break to bring the score to 15-8 going into the second quarter.

The two teams went back and forth to start the second quarter, but a 9-2 run by the Lady Toppers gave WKU its first lead of the game with 2:19 left in the quarter. The run was capped with a steal from Karris Allen and then a three on the next play. New Mexico State ended the quarter on a 7-2 scoring run to take a 30-26 lead into halftime.

The Lady Toppers cut the lead down to one to start the third quarter. The two teams traded baskets for most of the quarter, but New Mexico State scored the final five points of the frame to take a 48-39 lead into the fourth quarter.

New Mexico State kept a double-digit lead for most of the fourth quarter, but a 5-0 run by WKU cut the lead down to six with 3:08 left. The Aggies responded with three straight free throws to extend it back out to nine. The Lady Toppers scored four straight with under a minute left to cut it to 62-57. With 23 seconds left, WKU forced a steal to regain possession. Destiny Salary was fouled and made both free throws to cut it to three with 16.8 seconds. WKU fouled on the next possession and New Mexico State missed both free throws with 11 seconds left. Mead took a contested shot with four seconds left that rattled in, but her foot was on the 3-point line bringing the score to 62-61. The Aggies made two free throws to end the game.

WKU will return to E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Feb. 24 against Middle Tennessee for an 11 a.m. showdown on ESPNU.

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