CENTERS
Holding down the five spot for the Aggies will be 6'3" sophomore Cindy Ekweozor. "Cindy's probably the most improved player we have in the program from a year ago. She's got herself in much better shape. She's stronger, her commitment level is a lot greater," said Coach Spence.

The Aggie coaching staff hopes that Ekweozor can fill the spot left by Niki Holt who finished last season leading the Aggies in rebounding (5.0 per game) and blocked shots (61).

Ekweozor saw action in just nine games as a freshman and finished with 11 rebounds and scored four points.

"She's turning into a pretty good post player, she's able to rebound and block shots and she's getting to where she's scoring around the basket now." That improved scoring around the basket will be important as the Aggies hope to take some scoring pressure of their guards.  Continue Reading This Post >>

FORWARDS
The Aggie forward position is led by 6'1" sophomore Tabytha Wampler. Wampler played in all 31 games for the Aggies last season as was a starter in nearly every game. "She got great experience as a freshman," said Coach Spence. She averaged 23.6 minutes per game and was the Aggies' leading rebounded along with departed senior center Niki Holt at five rebounds per game. Wampler led the team in rebounding eight times and scored a career high 15 points in a loss to Utah State.

"Tabytha is one of those high energy, vocal players that's also a glue player," said Coach Spence. "She can put up points and she can pull down rebounds." Wampler averaged 7.2 points per game and her point production will be relied upon down low to free up the Aggie perimeter offense. "Right now she's our go-to player around the basket. But she's also got the ability now to move out and she can handle the ball." Wampler also hit 8 of 17 three point attempts and can pull her defender out to the perimeter opening up the paint for the Aggie guards to drive to the basket. Wampler is also an effective passer having dished out 38 assists on the season averaging 1.2 assists per game.

Wampler proved to be a difference maker when she was on the floor but one area of improvement for her this season is in the foul department. Wampler was whistled for 107 fouls last season and fouled out of a team high eight games while no other Aggie fouled out more than three times last season.  Continue Reading This Post >>

GUARDS (CON'T)
One of the most dynamic and exciting players in the WAC is 5'8" sophomore Kaitlyn Soto. Soto played backup point guard last season for the Aggies appearing in all 31 games. In addition to playing backup point guard she also saw court time alongside Madison Spence giving the Aggies a dribble-drive-shoot threat.

Soto has been described by Aggie head coach Darin Spence as "The Energizer Bunny" but fans and opponents might be more likely to describe her as the Tasmanian Devil enveloping and discarding anyone that gets in her way. "She is by far the roughest player I've ever had, said Coach Spence. He added, "And I've been a head men's basketball coach on the junior college level."

Soto quickly became a fan favorite with her high energy level, enthusiasm and reckless abandon when driving through the paint on her way to the basket. "She's physical, she'll knock you down, she'll outrun you," said Coach Spence. "She's a warrior out there."

Soto averaged 20 minutes per game and scored 6.1 points per game and was second on the team in assists per game at 2.0. Her ability to drive to the basket and get fouled was evident in the 101 free throws that she attempted, second most on the team. She converted on 65 percent of the free throw attempts, a number that she will need to improve this season given the volume of free throws that her style of play lends itself to.  Continue Reading This Post >>

The New Mexico State Aggies enter the 2009-2010 season having been picked to finish 5th by the league's coaches and sixth by the media. Last season the Aggies struggled to a 9-22 overall record and finished 5-11 in conference play. However, those who followed the Aggies closely know that last season's struggles were due in large part to the team's youth movement. The Aggies had as many as three freshmen on the floor at any given time in the game. That youth and inexperience has given way to a squad that is one year older, battle tested and hungry to erase the taste of losing from last season. The Aggies are aiming to make it to the WAC Tournament finals for the fourth time in the past five seasons and end a lengthy postseason absence.

The Aggies' strength is at the guard position where they have one of the best and deepest backcourts in the league.

GUARDS
The guard position starts with preseason First Team All-WAC selection Madison Spence. Spence is undeniably the teams' heart and soul and is the most complete player on the team. "Madi is by far one of the top names and top players in the conference," said Aggie head women's basketball coach Darin Spence.

As a sophomore Spence battled through mononucleosis the entire season in addition to a food allergy that was not diagnosed until midway through the season. Despite those physical ailments, Spence led the team in floor time playing nearly 31 minutes per game. As a sophomore her efficiency dropped from her freshman season due to the lack of consistent scoring threats from her teammates. Spence, the team's best three point shooter, saw her three point shooting percentage drop to just 28 percent from the field as teams began to key in on her three point shooting as she finished the season hitting 37 three point attempts.

Her overall field goal percentage was comparable to her freshman season as she converted at a 38 percent clip hitting 146 field goals. She averaged 14.3 points per game which was fifth best in the WAC. She scored a season high 30 points in an 84-82 loss to Kent State early in the season in which she finished 8 of 15 from the field, 9 of 11 from the free throw line and dished out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds. "She's played at a high level here for two years," said Coach Spence. She showcased her versatility and high level of play in a victory over eventual league champion Fresno State when she nearly recorded a triple-double scoring 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out nine assists.  Continue Reading This Post >>