The New Mexico State women's basketball team is entering a pivotal fourth season under the guidance of coach Jody Adams — and this year, they’re aiming even higher. They wrapped up last season ranked fourth in Conference USA with a 10-8 record within the conference, and they earned an invitation to the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Aggies secured a win against Pacific in the opening round but were eliminated by North Dakota State in the following round, finishing the 2024-25 season with an 18-15 overall record.
Now, the spotlight is on the freshly finalized 13-player roster for the upcoming season. This lineup includes a blend of experience and fresh talent: five players returning from last year, four new recruits coming from junior colleges, three true freshmen stepping into college basketball, and one transfer player joining the squad. Before the official season kicks off, the Aggies will host an exhibition game at home against Cochise College from Arizona on Sunday, October 26. The competitive season itself begins shortly after, with an away game at USC on Tuesday, November 4.
Let's break down the latest roster and what each group brings to the court:
Guards
The guard position features Imani Warren, Loes Rozing, Keira Hudson, DeAvion Wilson, Nikki Stanic, Emma Christiano, and Anna Csenyi. Rozing stands out as the returning starter who started in all 34 games last season under Coach Adams. While Rozing hasn’t been a prolific scorer—averaging just 3.3 points per game—she might be counted on this year to boost her offensive game, which could be crucial for the team’s performance.
Warren and Csenyi are also back, each looking to expand their roles this season. Warren saw modest action last year with 119 minutes across 20 games, while Csenyi played slightly more, with 159 minutes in 21 games, including three starts. The rest of the guards are fresh faces. Emma Christiano joins as the team’s only transfer, arriving from New Mexico Highlands where she played between 2023 and 2025. Being a Las Cruces native, she carries local ties and experience from starting 26 of 55 games at New Mexico Highlands, averaging 3 points per game last season.
Nikki Stanic is a junior college recruit from St. Petersburg College in Florida, known for her solid shooting performance—making 42.9% of her attempts over 29 games. Then there are two true freshmen: Keira Hudson, who comes from Barker College in Australia and brings an international flavor to the squad, and DeAvion Wilson, who was recognized statewide as part of the 2024 Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star Team while playing for C.E. King High School in Houston, indicating her potential at the next level.
Forwards
The forwards group includes Morane Dossou, Marta Guilera, Iyana Beh, Lucía Yenes, Lucia Lara, and Senoj Jones. Among these, Yenes is the longest-standing member with four seasons at New Mexico State under her belt. Last season, she maintained consistent play by participating in 33 games and averaging 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds, with five games where she scored in double digits.
Guilera is another familiar face, seeing limited floor time last season with 25 minutes across six games, but she remains part of the team’s plans. Then there’s Iyana Beh, who is one of the most exciting newcomers hailing from Snow College in Utah. Over her two seasons there, she scored an impressive 410 points and averaged 5.1 rebounds per game, signaling her potential impact for the Aggies.
Two other forwards come from junior colleges: Lucia Lara, who played at Butler Community College in Kansas and showed her versatility by averaging seven rebounds per game, delivering 52 assists, and shooting an impressive 38.2% from beyond the three-point line last season; and Morane Dossou, who transferred from Dodge City Community College, also located in Kansas.
Finally, Senoj Jones is a true freshman who made waves at Tyler Legacy High School in Texas. She scored over 1,000 points in high school and earned multiple honors including Newcomer of the Year, Player of the Year, and MVP of her district. She was also selected for the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star Team and an All-Region Team, suggesting she could be a key performer for the Aggies in the near future.
But here’s where it gets controversial: will this mix of returning players and newcomers be enough to push New Mexico State beyond last season’s achievements? And is relying on some players to step up offensively, like Rozing, a risk or a smart gamble? Those questions remain open as the Aggies prepare for what looks to be an exciting and competitive season.
What do you think? Can Coach Adams’ squad break through to the top of Conference USA this year? Share your thoughts and predictions below!
