Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Trailing by as many as 31 points with eight minutes to play in the first half, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team showed toughness and grit fighting all the way back to within six late in the game before No. 2 Colorado Mesa University held on for the 69-58 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday night.


"We had a tough start tonight on both ends, but credit our players for not quitting when we were down 31 with eight minutes to go in the first half," second-year head coach Rusty Kennedy said. "We were able to cut it to six late on the home court of the No. 2 team in the land. I applaud my team's heart and fight!"


WNMU (10-14, 7-12 RMAC) opened the game with the first two points on free throws by junior center Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) and later her layup had the Lady Mustangs ahead by one nearly two minutes in. CMU (23-0, 19-0 RMAC) would answer back with the next basket that would end up being a 36-4 run over the next 16 minutes to go in front by 31, 39-8, with eight minutes to play in the opening half.


With the game appearing to be over, the Lady Mustangs dug deep and began to chip away before halftime. Junior point guard RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School), who led WNMU with 17 points, started an 11-0 run with a layup a minute later. Junior forward Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) added a layup and after Newsome split a pair from the line, the Lady Mustangs dialed long distance with junior guard Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) swishing one of her five 3-pointers and Newsome completed the run she started with her own triple leaving WNMU down just 20, 39-19, with three to go before the break.


Newsome cut through the paint for a layup nearly two minutes later and a pair of free throws by senior forward Veronica Celaya (Chandler, AZ/Williams Field High School) left the Lady Mustangs down 17 at halftime, 43-26.


The Mavericks started the second half on a 6-0 run, but after that it became all WNMU. Mitchell pulled the Lady Mustangs to within 15 five minutes into the second stanza with another three-pointer, 51-36. The deficit was cut to 10 a few minutes later with Celaya hitting a layup, a free throw by Moore and then a trey from Newsome at the 11:08 mark for a 52-42 CMU lead.


The lead would stay around 10 to 14 points for the Mavericks over the next five-plus minutes when a Newsome layup brought the Lady Mustangs to within eight, 60-52, with fewer than six minutes to play.


CMU came back to go in front by 10 with five minutes to play, but WNMU kept coming back again and again. Newsome hit two free throws and after a loose ball foul was called on CMU, junior guard Desiree Young (North Ogden, UT/Weber High School) made her own pair from the line to pull WNMU to within six, 63-57, with 4:43 to play.


The Lady Mustang defense would force a missed shot and collect a turnover on the next two Maverick offensive possessions, but WNMU wouldn't get any closer as a missed three and layup kept CMU ahead by six when a three by Taylor Rock pushed the Mavs lead back to nine, 66-57, with three minutes to play.


WNMU would get as close as eight over the final few minutes before CMU held on for the hard-fought victory.


Newsome led WNMU with 17 points, along with five assists and four rebounds. Mitchell posted all 15 of her points on five 3s. Sharaya Selsor led CMU and all-scorers going for 19 points. CMU made 40 percent from the field (22-55) to a 17-of-52 (32.7) effort for WNMU. Each team made eight 3-pointers, while CMU held a slight 17-16 edge at the foul line.


UC-Colorado Springs held on to defeat Fort Lewis (61-57), which means at 8-10 in the RMAC they still hold the eighth and final spot for the RMAC Tournament and WNMU is 1.5 games back. Colorado Mines won again, this time over Chadron State (87-63) to move to 8-11 and a half-game back. New Mexico Highlands moved into a tie with WNMU in tenth as they defeated Western State (67-53) and are 7-12.


WNMU has a pair of big home games coming up as they will host Colorado Christian, currently seventh at 10-9, Friday night at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, which will also be senior night, the Lady Mustangs will host Colorado Mines.