Written by: Jason Groves/Sun-News Reporter
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The view is different from the top.
After falling short as a Cinderella team the last two conference tournaments, the New Mexico State University women's basketball team is taking a different approach to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament this year. Hopefully, this route will result in the Aggies' first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1987-88.
The Aggies have never won a tournament championship and are attempting a run at their first conference title since the 1994-95 Sun Belt championship.
"The seniors have been to two championship games already so they know how to get there and we just have to keep building off that and hopefully finish it," Aggies freshman guard Madison Spence said.
The No. 3 Aggies (21-8, 11-5 WAC) face No. 6 Hawaii in today's 6 p.m. quarterfinal game. NMSU swept the season series against the Wahine (12-17, 6-10), including a hard-fought 59-58 victory at Hawaii on Saturday.
Hawaii held a 14-point halftime lead on Saturday and the Aggies never led until freshman guard Danisha Corbett's lay-up with 11 seconds to play.
"I think it will be challenging because they know that they almost beat us so they will be looking to get us this time, but we know what we need to do and what we need to improve on to beat them," Madison Spence said.
The Aggies easily defeated Hawaii 71-53 on Jan. 31 at the Pan Am, but the team got off to a rocky start in that game as well.
"They feel like their mindset is coming in here and beating us," Aggies head coach Darin Spence said. "Our players are looking at this game like we have something to prove because we have been stumbling around in the first half."
Coach Spence said Hawaii's size has caused the rough starts, led by forward Tonya Allen, whose 11.8 rebounds per game lead the WAC and is third in the nation.
Hawaii is the top 3-point shooting team in the WAC at 36 percent, and the Wahine were 8-for-14 from long range last week against the Aggies.
"They have good size and that makes you worry about their inside players," Darin Spence said. "Their guards took and made open shots in Hawaii. They came out and punched us in the mouth."
Darin Spence hopes that Aggies fans continue to support the women's team since this year's WAC tournament could come down to one or two plays.
"I think any one of seven teams can win this thing," Darin Spence said. "I don't think there is any one big favorite. We are only going to get one team in the (NCAA) tournament as a league, so what happens is, all the records are thrown out and the intensity level picks up."
Fans can listen to the game on 570 KSNM-AM and video and radio streaming is available on www.wac.tv.
Jason Groves can be reached at jgroves@lcsun-news.com
