LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — Lucia Yenes scored a game-high 21 points and New Mexico State used a dominant second quarter to erase an early deficit and defeat Kennesaw State 52-40 in a women’s college basketball game Thursday night at the Pan American Center.

The Aggies, who trailed by nine after the first quarter, outscored the Owls 18-7 in the second period to seize control and never relinquished the lead, improving to 9-18 overall. Kennesaw State fell to 11-15.

The most important stretch of the game came in that decisive second quarter. After Kennesaw State’s Keyarah Berry opened the period with a layup to extend the Owls’ lead to 22-11, the Aggies embarked on a 16-2 run over the next six and a half minutes. The surge was fueled by stifling defense that forced seven Kennesaw State turnovers in the quarter and efficient offense from Yenes and Senoj Jones.

Yenes, a sophomore from Madrid, Spain, was the catalyst. She scored seven points during the run, including a layup off a steal and a 3-pointer, while also contributing two steals on the defensive end. Jones, from Tyler, Texas, added six points in the quarter, finishing with 14 for the game. The run transformed an 11-point deficit into a 27-24 Aggies lead, and Kennesaw State could not mount a sustained response.

The Owls had started the game with precision, building a 20-11 lead after the first quarter behind eight early points from Berry. The sophomore guard from Rockmart, Georgia, led Kennesaw State with 12 points. But the offensive rhythm disappeared in the second quarter as the Aggies tightened their defensive pressure. Kennesaw State shot just 3 of 13 from the field in the period and committed 10 of their 22 total turnovers before halftime.

New Mexico State extended its lead to 43-33 by the end of the third quarter, with Yenes scoring nine points in the period. The Aggies’ lead never dipped below eight points in the final quarter, as the Owls struggled to find consistent scoring, managing only seven points in the fourth.

Imani Warren provided valuable support for New Mexico State with seven points, four assists and two blocks. Emma Christiano, a local product from Las Cruces, chipped in four points and four assists while orchestrating the offense for 33 minutes.

For Kennesaw State, Latazia Williamson of Nashville, Tennessee, logged a team-high 38 minutes and contributed six points and a block. Trynce Taylor of Alpharetta, Georgia, added six points off the bench.

The Aggies won despite shooting challenges of their own, but capitalized on 22 Kennesaw State turnovers, converting them into 19 points. New Mexico State also held a 38-34 advantage in rebounds in front of a crowd of 863.

The victory avenged a 70-55 loss at Kennesaw State on Jan. 24. Both teams return to conference play on Saturday, with New Mexico State hosting Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State traveling to face UTEP.