The women’s basketball team wanted to get off to a great start Friday afternoon in their first regular-season game against New Mexico State, but their first half performance put them in a hole. They tried to come back, but it wasn’t enough as they lost 79-72.

The announcer called the women’s basketball team one by one and they were excited for the season opener. However, it did not look like that by the opening tip.

All the energy that the Matadors played with in the exhibition season went out the window. In the first half, the women’s team had a hard time meeting the energy of the Aggies.

“In practice we find great success with our offense, but we need to bring the same intensity to the game,” head coach Staci Schulz said.

New Mexico State took advantage of the Matadors’ slow start. They built a 13- point lead going into halftime by shooting 75 percent from the charity strip and knocking down six three-pointers.

Also, the great play of Danisha Corbett helped the Aggies build their lead. She had 21 points for the game.

However, in the second half, something clicked. The Matadors’ energy elevated and the team started to play together. Janelle Normura and Jasmine Erving led the charge in the second half. Normura scored 19 points and Erving added 15 points.

The team also started to get to the free throw line more. They scored 23 points from the line, which really slowed the game down.

“A lot of my points came off the free throw line,” Normura said. “The defensive was really tight, so I was able to go around them. Also, the help side defensive was really slow. It enabled me to draw contact with my person.”

“I see a pretty good future for her,” Schulz said about Normura.

The Matadors were able to outscore New Mexico State 47-41 in the second half.

Katrina Thompson, who had her usual all-around game with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“We came out really slow, and should have played like we did in the second half,” Thompson said.

Furthermore, it is not all bad for the Matadors. Basketball players always say there is a difference between the exhibition season and the regular season. It looks like it took the Matadors a half to figure that out.

However, the women’s team better get it together soon because the season will only get harder. New Mexico State will not be their hardest opponent. Coach Schulz expects a turnaround.

“I expect to play better, and it was a game we should have won,” Schulz said.

They have key non-conference games coming up against, San Jose State, and the University of San Diego.