by Box Score DENVER, Colo. – Having set program history last year with their first win over Metro State University Denver, the Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team added to that with their first road victory in program history against the Lady Roadrunners coming away with the 59-47 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday night.
“Proud of our group tonight to respond with such toughness, and togetherness less than 24 hours after a tough loss was huge,” head coach Rusty Kennedy said. “Truly a team effort, Ashley Witherspoon (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills High School) was huge defensively, and Mitchell, Moore, and Newsome had bounce back games.”
Behind three players in double-figures and a solid advantage on turnovers (+7), points off turnovers (20-11), free throws (22-10) and second-chance points (11-4) helped power the Lady Mustangs (5-6, 3-5 RMAC) to the road win.
WNMU never trailed and held a lead by as many as 13 points in the second half.
The dominance started early with Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) hitting a jumper and RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) a three to give WNMU a 9-2 lead just over four minutes in.
MSU Denver (7-4, 4-3 RMAC) answered with a 8-2 run to pull to within a point, just to watch the Lady Mustangs go on a 4-0 run with free throws from Newsome and Tessa Jones(Truth or Consequences, NM/Hot Springs High School).
After the Lady Roadrunners tied the game at 17, WNMU closed the half on a 9-5 run to take a 26-22 lead at the break. Ashley Mitchell (Navajo Nation) accounted for all nine points over the remainder of the half for the Lady Mustangs. WNMU turned 11 turnovers into 13 points.
Following an early spurt by MSU Denver to get back to within three early in the second half, WNMU used an 11-2 run to put the game out of reach. Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School), Botelho, Newsome and Mitchell all contributed to the run.
A Newsome free throw at the 3:16 mark had WNMU with their largest lead of the game at 53-40.
Moore led the Lady Mustangs with a game-high 20 points and also added nine rebounds. She made 7-of-12 from the field and went 6-of-7 from the foul line. Of her nine rebounds, six came on the offensive end. Mitchell tallied 18 points and Newsome chipped in 13. Newsome also led the team in assists (8) and steals (4), while Ashley Witherspoon (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills High School) collected nine rebounds and three steals.
Deni Jacobs led MSU Denver with 15 points. Both teams shot in the 30 percent range with WNMU making 17-of-54 (31.5) and the Lady Roadrunners made 18-of-51 (35.3). WNMU held a 3-1 edge on three-pointers and had a 22-10 advantage at the foul line, making 88 percent (22-25).
WNMU will remain on the road this coming Friday as they will play at Adams State beginning at 5:30 p.m.
