Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – Solid shooting and defense went the way of the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team in the first half against Colorado State University-Pueblo as they opened up a 12-point halftime lead. In the second half, the ThunderWolves went to a zone and shot much better as they came back for the 66-57 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday night.


"That was one facet of what happened in the second half (was them playing zone). The other was offensively they really attacked us, as they were the aggressors and defensively we stopped being reactive and more passive," second-year head coach Rusty Kennedy said. "You have to credit CSU-Pueblo as they dictated what we were going to do in the second half and we really had no answer to that. That's why they're one of the elite in our league year in and year out."


Hot shooting and stifling defense were the theme in the first half for WNMU (9-11, 6-9 RMAC) as they shot 52 percent from the floor and held CSU-Pueblo (16-5, 13-2 RMAC) to just a 26.7 percent clip in the opening half. After CSU-Pueblo took their first and only lead of the first half almost a minute in (3-2), the Lady Mustangs (9-11, 6-9 RMAC) responded going on a 9-2 run to open an 11-5 lead. Junior center Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) accounted for four points during the run at the foul line, while junior forward Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) added a foul shot, a layup in transition from junior point guard RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) before senior forward Veronica Celaya (Chandler, AZ/Williams Field High School) closed the spurt with a jumper at the 12:15 mark.


The lead hovered around six over the next several minutes when junior guard Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) was left open on the wing and hit a three to push the advantage to seven. Senior guard Kim Clark (Santee, CA/West Hills High School) took a Newsome pass on the next trip down and hit a mid-range jumper giving the Lady Mustangs a 23-14 lead with 6:47 to go before halftime.


The lead reached 12 for the first time at the 3:58 mark on a layup by Hernandez (28-16). The teams would then alternate baskets before Celaya closed the scoring connecting on a jumper to give WNMU the 32-20 halftime lead.


Moore opened the second half with a jumper 16 seconds in that gave WNMU their largest lead of the night of 14 at 34-20. After that, the ThunderWolves ramped up the 2-3 zone defense and began to hit shots in bunches.


CSU-Pueblo went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes leaving WNMU ahead, 34-28. They would keep coming, as a 9-2 run had them in front for the first time since early in the game, 37-36, with 13:23 to play.


Hernandez helped stop the run with a three from the wing to pull the Lady Mustangs back in front by two, 39-37. The lead would get back to as many as four on the next trip down when Celaya delivered a layup in transition. The ThunderWolves raced right back, going on a 7-0 run to lead by three, 44-41, and it would end up being a lead they wouldn't relinquish.


It was certainly a tale of two halves for both teams, with WNMU shooting 52 percent (13-25) in the first half to just 34.8 (8-23) in the second. It was reversed for the ThunderWolves, as they shot just 26.7 percent (8-30) in the opening half, but shot lights out in the second half connecting in 15-of-26 (57.7). Turnovers also went in the favor of CSU-Pueblo, 25-13, as well as free throws (15-10), while the teams each hit five 3-pointers.


Four Lady Mustangs reached double-figures powered by 15 from Mitchell, along with 12 from Newsome and 10 each from Hernandez and Moore. Hernandez also grabbed a double-double with a game-high 13 rebounds. CSU-Pueblo's Katie Nehf led all-scorers going for 18.


With another week in the books, Colorado Mesa (15-0) and CSU-Pueblo (13-2) remain the top two teams. Regis and Black Hills State, both 9-6 are tied for third, as the top four teams will host a first round RMAC Tournament game. Fort Lewis is alone in fifth (8-6), while Colorado Christian and Metro State are 8-7 and tied for sixth. That leaves the eighth and final spot which three teams are battling for all at 6-9 in WNMU, Colorado Mines and UC-Colorado Springs. Also still in the hunt just a game back each are New Mexico Highlands and Western State, both 5-10, while Adams State (3-11) and Chadron State (3-12) are just a few games out.


WNMU will hit the road next week as they will travel to Durango, Colo., to face Fort Lewis College Friday night beginning at 5:30 p.m., before closing the trip Saturday in Alamosa, Colo., at Adams State University.