by ALAMOSA, Colo. – Despite a couple of late rallies, the Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team never trailed on their way to defeating Adams State University, 70-63, Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
“We made just enough plays to sneak one out. Adams State played with such energy it disrupted us during a key late stretch in both halves,” Head Coach Rusty Kennedy said. “Jade had a huge second half and my seniors gave us the same steady production.”
WNMU (6-6, 4-5 RMAC) opened the scoring 42 seconds in on a jumper by RaTanya Newsome(Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School). Newsome played all 40 minutes and nearly collected a double-double with 12 points and eight assists, nearly two assists higher than her 6.2 per game average that was ninth in the nation.
The lead would quickly stretch to seven at 12-5 on a three-pointer by Stephanie Douthit(Phoenix, AZ/Desert Mountain ). Ashley Mitchell (Navajo Nation)connected on her own three at the 8:33 mark left in the first half to give the Lady Mustangs a 24-15 lead. Mitchell led WNMU in scoring with 15 points, making 5-of-11 from the field.
Then after a lead by as many as 10, ASU (1-11, 1-7 RMAC) came storming back with a 12-3 run to leave WNMU ahead by just one, 32-31, at halftime.
A 10-2 points in the paint and 12-9 bench advantage helped power the Lady Mustangs in the opening 20 minutes.
WNMU responded from ASU’s run to end the half coming out of the locker room with a 12-0 run to being the second half. Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) started the run with a jumper just eight seconds in. Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) added a layup, a three-point-play by Botelho and then after a three by Newsome, Botelho capped the run with a jumper pushing the Lady Mustangs to a 44-31 lead at the 15:35 mark. Botelho’s seven points during the run helped her finish with 12 points and a double-double with 11 rebounds.
The Lady Mustangs would push the lead back to 13 a couple more times before the Lady Grizzlies would make things interesting down the stretch. ASU kept chipping away, fighting back to two at 62-60 with still four minutes to play.
Botelho and Newsome would split foul shots to give WNMU a four-point lead with 1:38 to play. ASU would hit two at the line on their next trip down making it a 64-62 game. Mitchell came through clutch drilling a jumper off an assist by Ashley Witherspoon (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills High School) to move the lead back to four with a minute to play. The Lady Grizzlies tried to go for a three, but it missed and Mitchell came down with the rebound. That would lead to a Botelho layup off a pass from Mitchell to take a six-point advantage and help propel WNMU to the victory.
WNMU shot over 50 percent from the field making 27-of-53, while ASU made 25-of-60 (41.7). WNMU made one more three-pointer (6-5) and held a 10-8 edge at the charity stripe. The Lady Mustangs held advantages in points in the paint (22-16), second-chance (10-9) and bench (19-9).
In addition to Newsome and Botelho scoring 12 points, Moore also added 12 and Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School), in her first game back after missing the previous five, added 10 points and five rebounds.
Desiree Anderson and Mariah Gonzales both led ASU and all-scorers with 20 points apiece.
WNMU will play at Fort Lewis Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks defeated New Mexico Highlands, 77-57, earlier tonight.
