by by Brian Kortz, WNMU Athletics
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team opened the 2014-15 campaign staying right with Division I Idaho State University before the Lady Bengals pulled away in the second half for the 75-58 exhibition win Saturday afternoon.
ISU opened with a 9-2 run three minutes in. WNMU would quickly come back over the next few minutes with Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) trimming the deficit to two, 10-8, with a layup at the 13:52 mark. The Lady Bengals would pull ahead by as many as 11 a few minutes later when Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) connected on a three-pointer, which was followed by a Botelho jumper. The run kept coming for the Lady Mustangs as Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) tailed a pair from the free throw line and then she hit a three-point-play at the 8:46 mark making it 21-20.
The scoring spurts would continue throughout the half, as ISU would again pull ahead by as many as six just to watch WNMU come back with Mitchell hitting a jumper and then a Cristiana Yepa (Dulce, NM/Dulce High School) layup tied the game at 32 with 4:11 to go before halftime.
A 9-4 run for ISU would give the Lady Bengals a 41-36 lead at the break. WNMU benefited from 15 bench points in the opening half and nine points off turnovers.
The momentum carried over for ISU in the second half as they started on an 11-2 run to take a 52-38 lead five minutes in.
The Lady Bengals would keep the pressure up for the remainder of the half to take the victory. WNMU would cut the deficit back to 14 a pair of times late with Audrey Oliver (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield High School) hitting a free throw and Desiree Young (North Ogden, UT/Weber High School) making a jumper.
Moore and Mitchell reached double-digits in scoring to lead the Lady Mustangs. Moore tallied 11 points and five rebounds, while Mitchell had 10 points, making two three-pointers. Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) led in rebounds with six, while RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) led the offense with five assists and three steals.
Rebecca Schrimpsher led ISU and all players with 20 points.
WNMU will remain on the road for another exhibition contest on Monday night against Utah State with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
