LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering fourth-quarter reversal, the Liberty women’s basketball team erased a double-digit deficit with a 30-point final period to stun New Mexico State 67-62 in a Conference USA matchup Friday night at the Pan American Center.

The visiting Lady Flames, who trailed by as many as 11 points in the third quarter and entered the final period down 42-37, unleashed an offensive barrage to secure the road victory. Liberty’s 30 points in the fourth quarter nearly matched its total output from the first half and overwhelmed a New Mexico State team that had controlled the game’s tempo for the first 30 minutes.

The most important part of the game was Liberty’s decisive 15-2 run over a critical four-minute span late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 52-48 with just over six minutes to play, the Lady Flames tightened their defense and found a rhythm. Avery Mills, who finished with a team-high 25 points, ignited the surge with a 3-pointer. Ify Nwaobi, who scored nine points, added a layup and a free throw, and Emmy Stout contributed a key basket inside. The run, capped by another Mills 3-pointer, transformed a four-point deficit into a 63-54 lead with 2:34 remaining, a cushion New Mexico State could not overcome despite a frantic final minute.

Liberty’s comeback was necessitated by a sluggish start and the prolific scoring of New Mexico State’s Imani Warren. The Aggies built a 24-13 lead in the second quarter and maintained a comfortable margin for much of the night behind Warren’s game-high 29 points. Warren, a guard from Milwaukee, also dished out five assists. Her backcourt mate, Lucia Yenes of Madrid, Spain, added 16 points.

The Lady Flames struggled offensively for three quarters, scoring only 7, 16, and 14 points in each respective period. But the fourth quarter saw a complete turnaround, with Liberty shooting efficiently and forcing seven New Mexico State turnovers to fuel its transition game.

Mills, a guard from Lynchburg, Virginia, was instrumental in the rally, scoring 11 of her 25 points in the final quarter. Stout, a forward from San Diego, provided a strong interior presence with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. JaKayla Thompson added seven points, three assists, and a crucial blocked shot in the closing seconds.

New Mexico State, which led 11-7 after one quarter and 24-23 at halftime, saw its advantage grow to 42-31 in the third quarter following a 9-0 run. However, the Aggies could not sustain their offensive execution down the stretch, scoring 20 points in the fourth but surrendering open looks and committing costly errors against Liberty’s heightened defensive pressure.

The Aggies’ Morane Dossou scored eight points, and Emma Christiano had four assists. Loes Rozing played a team-high 36 minutes, scoring four points.

With the victory, Liberty improved to 7-5 overall and evened its early Conference USA record. The Lady Flames snapped a two-game losing streak that included a road loss at Oregon State on Dec. 20. New Mexico State fell to 4-9 overall.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 235 at the Pan American Center on the New Mexico State campus.

Liberty continues its road trip at UTEP on Sunday. New Mexico State will host Delaware on Sunday.