Western Kentucky’s women’s basketball team lost 64-59 at New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

WKU (15-6 overall, 6-3 Conference USA) was outscored 43-29 in the second half by New Mexico State (11-11, 4-5 CUSA) after having a 30-19 lead at halftime.

New Mexico State was the first on the scoreboard with a bucket and a foul shot. WKU responded with a 6-0 run, but New Mexico State scored six straight to retake the lead. The Lady Toppers ended the quarter on an 11-0 run, including seven points from Josie Gilvin, to take a 17-9 lead into the second quarter.

Destiny Salary scored the first points of the second quarter, pushing WKU’s lead to double digits. The two teams went back-and-forth the rest of the quarter, with WKU taking a slight edge, 13-10, in the frame and taking a 30-19 lead at halftime.

WKU’s Alexis Mead scored first in the third quarter, but New Mexico State went on a 6-0 run to cut WKU’s lead down to six. After trading baskets, WKU went on a 6-0 run to go back in front by 12. The Aggies ended the third quarter on a 12-3 run, giving the Lady Toppers just a 43-40 lead going into the final quarter.

New Mexico State scored first in the fourth quarter, but WKU came right back down and matched the score. The Aggies took their first lead since the first quarter with a 6-0 run, going ahead 48-45. The 6-0 run was part of a 13-2 run that helped New Mexico State build an eight-point lead with 5:22 left in the game.

WKU responded with an 8-2 run to get back within two with 1:35 left. The two teams traded free throws, but WKU wasn’t able to put together a run to make the comeback.

Acacia Hayes led the Lady Toppers in scoring for the third time this season, putting up 14 points along with five rebounds and two steals.

Salary put up 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. She has scored in double figures in five of the last six games and 10 of the last 12.

Mead added 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. She’s had five or more rebounds in six of the last eight games.

Gilvin had 10 points, four rebounds, one steal and one block. She has registered a block in all but six games this season.

The Lady Toppers had four score in double figures for the 11th time this season.

WKU outrebounded New Mexico State, 31-28. It was the first time this season the Lady Topppers have outrebounded a team and lost. They were previously 7-0 when doing so.

The Lady Toppers return home to host Kennesaw State on Thursday and Jacksonville State on Saturday, Feb. 8.