Box Score CHADRON, Neb. – The Western New Mexico University women's basketball team held their first lead of the game early in the second half and nearly erased an 11-point deficit late before Chadron State College held on for the 74-68 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday night.


Junior guard Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) hit a pair of jumpers to open the second half for WNMU (7-10, 4-8 RMAC) with the second one putting the Lady Mustangs in front for the first time at 26-24 a minute into the second stanza.


A jumper by junior center Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) a little over a minute later gave WNMU a two-point lead back just before CSC (3-12, 3-8 RMAC) reeled off a 6-0 run for a lead they wouldn't relinquish.


Junior point guard RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) had the Lady Mustangs within striking distance as her three-pointer at the 11:13 mark had the deficit down to three, but another Eagle run followed this time a 7-0 variety to push the lead into double-digits.


Senior guard Kim Clark (Santee, CA/West Hills High School) pulled WNMU the closest in the second half as her three-ball with six minutes to play left the Eagles ahead by just two at 56-54. Just like earlier in the game, CSC had the answer as a three from Kelsey Lemasney pushed CSC back in front by five.


The Eagles continued with the pressure running the lead to 11 with 3:20 to play, but the game was far from over.


Moore converted a three-point-play off an assist by Newsome to draw to within seven a minute later and after the Eagles split a pair of free throws, Newsome went the distance off the missed foul shot to hit the layup and was also fouled. She converted the foul shot leaving WNMU down just five, 71-66, with 1:22 to play.


Following an Eagle turnover, junior forward Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) hit a running jumper in the paint making it a three-point game at 71-68 with 44 seconds to play. A foul away from the ball put CSC at the line and Hattie Guzman hit both to push the Eagles back in front by five with 30 seconds left.


WNMU would then get several cracks at it on the next trip down the floor, but couldn't convert as they missed two three-pointers and then a pair of free throws before CSC secured the loose ball and were fouled with just 13 seconds left.


The Eagles would split a pair at the line to provide the final score of 74-68.


Early on, CSC built a seven-point lead just over five minutes into the first half. They would take an 11-point lead at 22-11 with 7:42 to play before halftime when WNMU would begin to cut into the deficit. Freshman point guard Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley High School) connected on a pair of threes with the last pulling WNMU to within four at 24-20 with 3:36 to go before the break. Mitchell would score the final points of the half a few minutes later on a jumper leaving CSC ahead 24-22 at halftime.


Newsome led WNMU with 19 points, while also leading with seven assists and four steals. Moore added 11 points and Mitchell with 10. Kattie Ranta led CSC and all-scorers with 22 points and also had a double-double with 17 rebounds. Both teams shot around 40 percent with CSC making 20-of-50, while WNMU hit on 28-of-74. WNMU held a 5-4 edge in three-pointers, while CSC had a big advantage at the charity stripe making 30 to just seven for WNMU. The Lady Mustangs led in most of the other categories including points in the paint (32-24), points off turnovers (18-15) and second-chance (18-6).


WNMU will return to action next Saturday night when they will host in-state rival New Mexico Highlands with gametime set for 5:30 p.m. inside Drag's Court.