Box Score LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Behind a blistering shooting effort from the field and from three-point range, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team exploded past Colorado Christian University, 95-67, Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


"Proud of my players, this was a great team effort," second-year head coach Rusty Kennedy said. "We had one of those nights where we put it all together."


The win over Colorado Christian in Lakewood marks the first time since Jan, 12 2007 that WNMU recorded a win over the Cougars as the Lady Mustangs won that game, 72-61.


It started early and often for WNMU (4-3, 1-1 RMAC), as they shot nearly 50 percent from the field (19-41) and from three-point range (6-15) to open a 46-32 lead at halftime.


The Lady Mustangs took the lead for the first time just over two minutes in on a layup from Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) for a 6-4 lead and never looked back. Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) and Desiree Young (North Ogden, UT/Weber High School) followed with a pair of jumpers and a RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) three helped boost the lead to nine at 13-4 at the 15:17 mark.


Each time CCU (3-3, 1-1 RMAC) trimmed the deficit to six or seven, WNMU's hot shooting had an answer. Ahead by seven, Kim Clark (Santee, CA/West Hills High School) connected on a trey near the midway point of the half and a Veronica Celaya (Chandler, AZ/Williams Field High School) layup helped stretch the lead past 10 a minute later for a 30-18 lead.


The pattern again followed with the Cougars fighting back to within seven just to watch the Lady Mustangs counter with a Mitchell layup and a pair of Moore free throws to push the lead back to double-digits. The lead got as high as 18, 44-26, with two minutes to go before halftime with another Clark three. CCU closed the half outscoring WNMU by four leaving the Lady Mustangs ahead by 14 at the break.


The hot shooting and pressure continued well into the second half with Mitchell getting loose for another three-pointer, as she added three more to her game-high 27 points a little over a minute in.


The lead reached 21 five minutes in on a layup from Desiree Young (North Ogden, UT/Weber High School). Mitchell would connect on her final three with nine minutes to play to give WNMU a commanding 79-52 advantage.


The Lady Mustangs would hold a lead of high into the 20's over the final few minutes, as they tied their largest lead of 28 coming with the final point that was scored on a foul shot by Mitchell for the 95-67 win.


WNMU shot even better in the second stanza hitting on 18-of-36 and 7-of-14 from downtown. They ended up making 48.1 (37-77) from the field and 44.8 (13-29) from three-point. The Lady Mustangs made 17 more shots from the field and 11 more three-pointers than CCU. Turnovers also favored WNMU, as CCU had 20 to just 10 for the Lady Mustangs.


Mitchell went for a game and season-high 27 points, making 9-of-14, including 6-of-8 from three. Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) dominated the glass as she went for a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Moore and Clark also added 12 points apiece. Newsome reached double-figures with 10, while leading the team with eight assists. Taylor Torres led the Cougars with 14 points.


The 90-plus points scored is the first time WNMU has done that in an RMAC game since Jan, 7 2010 when the Lady Mustangs defeated Regis in overtime, 92-80, on the road.


WNMU returns home this coming Friday when they will host Colorado Mesa inside Drag's Court at 5:30 p.m. The Mavericks were ranked fifth in the nation in the last poll and went 2-0 this weekend with wins over Chadron State and Black Hills.