Box Score ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University women's basketball team rallied to within two late in the first half, but Eastern New Mexico University would continue to hold their lead throughout the game taking the 77-61 victory Saturday in the Division II Basketball Classic at The Pit.
"You can't shoot like we did against a quality opponent and have a chance to win," Head Coach
Rusty Kennedy said. "We have to learn from this and get better."
After a
RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) layup two minutes in left the Lady Mustangs (1-1) down by one, 3-2, ENMU (1-2) would jump the lead to 11 near the midway point of the half.
Still behind by six,
Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) connected on a jumper on a pass by
Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) and then a layup by
Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) from Newsome had the Lady Mustangs down by just two, 24-22, with five minutes to play before the break.
The Lady Mustangs would get back to within two a couple more times on a layup by Moore and then a jumper by Mitchell before the Zias went on a 7-0 run over the final two minutes to take a 36-27 lead into halftime.
Through the first half, WNMU held advantages in points in the paint (20-12) and bench points (7-6).
ENMU opened the second stanza with the first points and both
Ashley Witherspoon (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Newsome would cut the deficit back to seven a couple of times, with the last coming at the 16:51 mark.
The Zias would continue with the pressure pushing the lead back into double-digits and holding that advantage until Newsome connected on a three at the 5:18 mark leaving the deficit at nine, 61-52.
Moore brought the Lady Mustangs to within seven with 2:36 to play with a layup, but that would be as close as WNMU would get the rest of the way with ENMU claiming the victory.
Newsome led WNMU in points with 13, while Hernandez tallied a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also added two blocks and three steals. Mitchell and Moore just missed out scoring in double-figures with Mitchell pouring in nine and Moore with eight.
Tori Tucker led ENMU and all-scorers with 25 points, with 12 coming at the foul line going 12-for-13.
The Lady Mustangs will now have the coming week off before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 1 at Sul Ross State beginning at 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
