Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University women's basketball team nearly erased an 18-point deficit over the final five minutes Friday night against Colorado School of Mines before the Orediggers held on for the 84-78 victory to open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play for both teams.

"I thought Colorado Mines played really well. Every time we made a defensive mistake they made us pay," second-year head coach Rusty Kennedy said. "I really like our fight though to be down 14 under five minutes to play and cut it to three with under a minute was a gutsy team effort."


CSM (2-3, 1-0 RMAC) appeared to have the game in their hands leading 72-54 with 5:23 to play when WNMU (3-3, 0-1 RMAC) came storming back.


Having chipped two points off the lead over the next few minutes, RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) started the run with a three-pointer, which Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) added a layup and a three by Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) left the Orediggers ahead by just five, 79-74, with a minute to play. Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley High School) then came away with a steal on the ensuing CSM possession and was later fouled. She would hit both from the line leaving WNMU down by just a basket at 79-76 with 46 seconds to play.


The Orediggers would recover at the foul line, as a pair of Courtney Gallo free throws moved the lead back to five and after a missed WNMU three, two more were made by Sam Rusk to push the lead to seven with just 17 seconds to play. CSM would hold off a pair of near steals by the Lady Mustangs on in-bound passes to hang on for the victory.


In the first half, WNMU held a three-point lead, 12-9 after a Hernandez jumper. The teams would tie four times throughout the first stanza, with the last coming at 19-all and 10:15 to play in the first half. The Orediggers would outscore the Lady Mustangs by seven following the final tie to take a 39-32 lead into the locker rooms.


Veronica Celaya (Chandler, AZ/Williams Field High School) and Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) opened the second half with a pair of jumpers to bring WNMU to within three. After that, CSM would go on a 28-13 run to open an 18-point lead they would reach a pair of times before the Lady Mustangs came storming back.


While CSM hit 50 percent (31-61) from the field to 40 percent (30-75) for WNMU, the Lady Mustang defense worked their way back into the game after forcing 23 turnovers, while committing just 12. Mitchell led three Lady Mustangs in double-figures with 17, Newsome followed with 16 and Hernandez added 14. CSM's Gallo led all-scorers with 22.


WNMU will play at Colorado Christian Saturday night beginning at 5 p.m. The Cougars defeated New Mexico Highlands, 95-65, tonight.