RUSTON — Louisiana Tech will look to start 2-0 in Conference USA play for the first time since the 2017-18 season when New Mexico State makes the trip to the Thomas Assembly Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

GAME INFORMATION
DATE/TIME: Saturday, January 4, 2 p.m. CT
LOCATION: Ruston, La. (Thomas Assembly Center)
TV: ESPN+
STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats
RADIO: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES RECORD: LA Tech, 17-5
LAST MEETING: LA Tech 70-63 OT (2/24/24)

ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (8-4, 1-0)
Louisiana Tech opened CUSA action stifling second-half defense that limited UTEP to just 19 points in the final 20 minutes. Robyn Lee had her third straight game with at least 17 points while adding eight rebounds. Isla Airey was the only other player in double figures with 10 pts. and eight boards. Jordan Marshall had nine points and seven boards, Jianna Morris added nine and five assists, and Paris Bradley had seven points and seven assists.

Lee has been red-hot over the past three games. The grad student is averaging 18.0 points per game on 54.5 percent shooting in that span. Lee has added 22 rebounds, 11 assists, and seven steals during the Lady Techsters' three-game winning streak. On the season, Lee has a team high 12.8 ppg and adds 5.9 boards, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals a contest.

Airey has been a dominant force on the defensive side of the ball all season. The 6-4 Australian continues to be one of the top shot blockers in the country with 2.08 per game, ranking her 42nd overall and third among freshmen. Her 25 total blocks rank 31st overall and third among freshmen. At the halfway point of the season, Airey ranks ninth in total blocks all-time among freshmen at LA Tech.

Bradley and Morris have been the floor generals for the Techsters. Over Tech's winning streak, the duo has combined for 31 assists and six turnovers. Bradley has averaged nearly five assists a game over the past five. Both rank among the top 20 in CUSA in assists and assists per game, with Bradly ranking inside the top five.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (8-6, 1-0)
New Mexico State enters the contest having beat Sam Houston 79-61 on Thursday. The Aggies outscored the Bearkats 49-28 over the second and third quarters to pull away. Molly Kaiser continues to be one of the top scorers in the country with 29 points on 12-16 shooting. Fanta Gassama secured a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Kaiser leads the league and is 13th in the nation with 20.9 ppg on a 52.4 shooting percentage. The grad student has scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games and eight total on the season, including two over 30. The two-time CUSA Player of the Week adds 3.7 boards and 2.7 assists a contest.

Gassama is another top returner for the Aggies and one of CUSA's top post players. The 6-1 forward missed three games in the middle of December but has four double-doubles this season. The Spaniard is second on the team with 11.3 points and is second in the conference at 9.6 rebounds a contest.

The Aggies rely on forcing opponents into turnovers that lead to easy baskets in transition. NM State forces teams in 20.1 turnovers a game and has 10.4 steals, both good for the top 50 in the nation. The defense helps the offense shoot 44.5 percent on the season.

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