Boxscore

LAS Cruces, N.M. ? Seventh-seeded New Mexico State used a late 10-0 run to down co-Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech 63-57 Wednesday night at the Pan American Center.

With the loss, Louisiana Tech falls to 17-13 and must now wait on an invitation to the Women?s National Invitation Tournament.

It will mark the first time in Tech history the Lady Techsters don?t make the NCAA Tournament, a streak spanning 25 years.

?I am disappointed, and I am so sad for these seniors,? Long said. ?It is a lot of pressure to keep that streak alive. We got off to a poor start this year, but turned it around to win the regular season title.

?I?d like to congratulate New Mexico State for a great performance. We were active tonight but we just came up short on shots. We didn?t handle their zone very well, took some poor shots and did not attack it like we should have.?

Tech led 54-50 on a three-pointer by Shan Moore with 4:23 to play before the Aggies scored 10 straight points, including six by Cecilia Russell Nava on a pair of three-pointers.

?I was pretty wide open and my teammates got me the ball so I just shot it,? said Russell-Nava, who scored a game-high 15 points for the Aggies, all coming from beyond the three-point arc.

Russell-Nava?s fifth three-pointer of the game came with 1:26 to play and gave New Mexico State a 60-54 lead. Tech closed the gap to 60-56 on a pair of free throws by Tamika Kursh with 0:39 to play but the Lady Techsters would get no closer.

?This is obviously a great moment for our program, and I can?t be happier for our kids,? said New Mexico State head coach Darin Spence. ?We just beat a heck of a ball team.?

Tech jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and increased the advantage to 23-13 with 7:11 to play on a three-point play by Ty Moore. However, Tech then made only 1-of-17 field goals down the stretch as New Mexico State took a 28-27 lead at the half.

The Lady Techsters opened the second half strong building a 49-41 lead on a jumper by Eboni Mangum with 9:27 to play before New Mexico State began clawing its way back.

Shan Moore led Tech with 17 points followed by Ty Moore with 11 points and Mangum with 10.

Tech outrebounded New Mexico State 47-35, including 19 offensive rebounds, but 34 percent shooting ultimately doomed the Lady Techsters.