by GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team forced 29 turnovers and held a halftime lead before Colorado Mesa University came back to claim the 76-66 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Friday night.
CMU (5-2, 2-1 RMAC), currently receiving votes in the latest WBCA Poll, held a five-point lead near the midway point of the first half, 20-15.
Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) helped WNMU (4-2, 2-1 RMAC) fight back to tie at 30 as she tallied a three-point-play with two minutes to go before the break. RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) would split a pair at the line on the next trip down to put the Lady Mustangs in front for the rest of the half. Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) connected on a three to extend the advantage to four and later a Botelho free throw had WNMU with their largest lead of the half of five at 37-32. The Lady Mavericks tallied a pair of free throws right before the half leaving WNMU ahead, 37-34.
WNMU posted a 19-11 advantage on points off turnovers and 17-4 spread on bench points.
CMU started the second stanza strong with an 11-2 run over the first two-plus minutes to open a 45-39 lead.
Newsome helped bring WNMU into a tie at 45-all with a jumper at the 14:49 mark. Just like the beginning of the half, the Lady Mavericks had another run in them going on an 8-0 burst to take a 53-45 advantage.
Ashley Witherspoon (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley High School) would connect on baskets a few minutes later with Gutierrez’s being a three to pull WNMU to within two at 57-55 with still nine minutes to play in the game.
CMU answered with another run to go back in front by eight with six to play.
The Lady Mustangs would get as close as four down the stretch with the last coming at the 2:15 mark on a jumper by Mitchell.
CMU would close on a 10-4 run to claim the 10-point victory.
Botelho came off the bench to lead the Lady Mustangs with 14 points. Ashley Mitchell (Navajo) added 13 and Newsome with 10. Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) led the way in rebounds with six, Newsome in assists with nine and tied with Mitchell in steals as both came away with four.
Erin Reichle led CMU and all-scorers with 22 points, going 10-of-10 from the foul line.
CMU held an advantage from the floor making 47.9 percent (23-48), while holding WNMU to a 38.6 percent clip (22-57). Each team made five three-pointers and the Lady Mavericks had a 25-17 advantage at the foul line and a 43-25 edge on rebounds.
WNMU will play at Western State Saturday night beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Mountaineers held off New Mexico Highlands with a double-overtime 76-66 victory earlier tonight.
