Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State went on an 8-0 run late in the game to capture the title of the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic with a 50-44 victory over UC Irvine at the Pan American Center Saturday.
New Mexico State (3-2) jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and led 11-4 with 9:24 remaining in the first half, before UC Irvine (1-5) went on an 11-5 run to close within 16-15 on a Jennifer Tsurumoto three-pointer at 4:57.
The Aggies would hold a 21-20 lead at the intermission, but UCI would come out of the locker room on a 9-5 spurt to take a 29-26 advantage on back-to-back jumpers by Anete Klintsone at 12:18. New Mexico State would hit three consecutive three-pointers followed by a basket underneath to put the Aggies back in the lead, 37-29 with 8:10 to play. The Anteaters would return the favor with an 8-0 run to knot the score 37-37 which was capped by a pair of Jennifer Tsurumoto free throws at 4:23. The Aggies scored the next eight points to open a 45-37 lead with 1.17 left on the clock. UCI would get a free throw and two baskets by Tsurumoto plus a bucket by Methlyn Onogomuho in the last 46.0 seconds as NMSU's Sasha Weber would close out the Aggie scoring with five free throws.
Junior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto led the Anteaters for the second consecutive night with 14 points and a career-high six rebounds. Sophomore forward Methlyn Onogomuho went 4-8 from the floor for eight points to go with two steals. Senior guard Anete Klintsone added a season-high six points in 15 minutes to action, while senior forward Pernilla Hanson had a game and career-high eight rebounds.
New Mexico State's Sasha Weber had a game-high 20 points, hitting 5-9 from the field, including 4-5 from three-point distance. She also went 6-11 at the free throw line and had three blocks. Stefanie Gilbreath totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
The Anteaters remain on the road traveling to Seattle U next Saturday (Dec. 1) for a 4:00 p.m. game.
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