New Mexico State loves having Fanta Gassama on the court.
The Spanish senior forward is one of the Aggies’ most important players and headed into Thursday’s 66-47 win over Jacksonville State (10-15, 4-10 Conference USA) ranking third in CUSA with 9.1 rebounds per game. She’s turned into one of the conference’s best forwards, and her recent availability is something NM State is fortunate for.
After missing three games in December with an undisclosed injury, including a road clash against Kansas State, she returned to score 13 points for the Aggies (14-12, 7-6) against Oklahoma on Dec. 29. She recorded double-digit rebounds in the three games after that, recording her fourth double-double of the season with a 13-point, 10-rebound performance against Sam Houston on Jan. 2 and grabbing 13 rebounds against rival UTEP on Jan. 11.
Thursday was her best game on the boards this season, tallying 14 in a 66-47 win over JSU and scoring 13 points for her seventh double-double of the season.
Gassama is tough to stop in multiple facets, and she knows how important it makes her.
“Everyone needs me here,” Gassama said. “I just do whatever I have to do for the team, and I play my role.”
Gassama headlines a seven-player international player group for the Aggies and a four-player group from her native Spain. Adams didn’t recruit her directly from Europe, as she first played at junior college South Georgia Tech from 2021-23, but having a group of players from the same place Gassama was made her feel at home.
She’s not only become more settled in Las Cruces this season, she’s becoming more confident in her game. That’s helped Gassama be on track to improve her season average in points per game and also be one of CUSA’s best rebounders, something she always pays attention to.
“It’s just consistency,” Gassama said. “I practice (rebounding) all the time in practice, and what I practice usually comes to life and translates in the game.
Gassama will look to help NM State finish strong on the homestretch of its season. The Aggies are fourth in CUSA and stayed two games behind Western Kentucky in third with their victory.
If NM State wants to keep pushing, they’ll need players like Gassama on their A-game.
“She’s really important,” said Aggies coach Jody Adams. “She’s been in the film room this week, and she needed to see what she was doing well and where she needed to change. I thought she was locked in (because of that).”
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Yenes provides spark off the bench
Ever since Jody Adams’ called for more bench production after falling to Middle Tennessee on Jan. 30, many players have answered it. On Thursday, it was Lucía Yenes.
The junior forward earned her third double-digit scoring game against the Gamecocks with 10 rebounds alongside three rebounds. Yenes also contributed on the defensive end with three steals, including one resulting in a fastbreak layup with 4:43 left as the Aggies closed out their win.
Teammates such as Gassama credit her for providing energy and aggressiveness off the bench, which Yenes aims to do every game.
“I always want to win, so I try to give my best every time I go,” Yenes said. “The team helps me to do everything good, so I feel like it’s not only just the five that are on the floor. We help each other.”
Yenes’ playing time was scarce until recently; she has now logged double-digit minutes in her last six games. The more she produces, the more she gains Adams’ trust.
“She’s done a great job. She just had to get serious and get locked in,” Adams said. “I’m really pleased to see her work through things and just hang tough to trust her work. I knew that it would pay off at some point.”
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What’s next?
NM State faces Kennesaw State (9-15, 4-9) at 2 p.m. Saturday, who is coming off a 68-56 win against UTEP on Thursday. The Aggies will look to avenge a close 68-66 road loss to the Owls earlier this season on Jan. 23.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico State women’s basketball tops Jacksonville State
