Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – Having cut an eight-point deficit down numerous times in both halves, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team came back late down the stretch, but a few missed chances to tie or take the lead fell short leaving Colorado Christian University with the 75-71 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Friday night.

"We had a shot to tie with under 10 seconds left and RaTanya got a look at it and it was a tough shot, but had a chance to go," second-year head coach Rusty Kennedy said. "We turned it over too many times and just awful defensively tonight. Any time the opponent comes in a shoots 50 percent on your home floor, then you haven't gotten the job done defensively. It's a shame because we spoiled what was a pretty good offensive night for us shooting almost 43 percent which is above our average and just had some wasted opportunities. But credit Colorado Christian, they were mentally tough and made huge plays."


CCU (13-11, 11-9 RMAC) held an eight-point lead just like they did a pair of times in the first half with 6:53 to play in the game. The Cougars would fight off a WNMU (10-15, 7-13 RMAC) run to go back in front by eight at 72-64 with 3:42 to play. Junior point guard RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) helped the Lady Mustangs begin their comeback with a pair from the line. Senior forward Veronica Celaya (Chandler, AZ/Williams Field High School) then took a great pass inside from junior guard Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) for a layup and trim the deficit to four.


The teams would trade a foul shot each leaving it a four-point game with 1:44 to play. Mitchell converted two at the line on the next Lady Mustang possession to leave CCU ahead by just two, 73-71, with 1:10 to play.


WNMU played solid defense on the trip down for the Cougars, forcing a deep three-point attempt that missed and junior forward Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) secured the rebound with 40 seconds left. After a WNMU timeout, Newsome began to attack the defense and went up for a shot in the paint, but it rattled off. She fought and grabbed the offensive rebound and WNMU called timeout with 13 seconds left.


The Lady Mustangs stayed on the perimeter until Newsome attacked with just seconds remaining, but her pass to Celaya went off her foot and Christian Whitelaw collected the steal and was fouled with two seconds to play. She would hit both from the line to seal the victory.


In the opening half, CCU jumped out to an eight-point lead just over four minutes in (14-6).


Still holding an eight-point advantage a minute later, Newsome triggered an 8-0 run with a three. Mitchell added to that a layup in transition and then senior guard Kim Clark (Santee, CA/West Hills High School) closed the run with a trey off an assist by Mitchell to knot the game at 16 at the 13:58 mark.


The Cougars countered with their own 5-0 run to stay in front, but the next Lady Mustang run boosted them in front. Freshman forward Tessa Jones (Truth or Consequences, NM/Hot Springs High School) drilled a jumper in the paint and after a layup by Newsome, Mitchell dialed long distance to push WNMU in front, 23-21, near the midway point of the opening half.


The lead would get as high as five a pair of times, with the last coming on a layup by junior guard Desiree Young (North Ogden, UT/Weber High School) for the 30-25 lead.


The Lady Mustangs would hold the lead over the next several minutes when a late burst by CCU gave them a four-point lead, 42-38, at the half as Taylor Torres hit a three at the buzzer.


Mitchell led four Lady Mustangs in double-figures going for 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Newsome and Clark added 15 apiece, as Clark made five 3-pointers. Celaya added 10. Whitelaw led CCU and all-scorers going for 20 points, along with 11 assists, nine steals and eight rebounds.


WNMU shot over 42 percent (22-52) from the field, while CCU hit right at 50 percent (29-58). The Lady Mustangs held a solid 9-5 edge in three-pointers and an 18-12 advantage at the charity stripe.


UC-Colorado Springs defeated Chadron State (81-73) tonight and remain in the eighth spot at 9-10 in the RMAC. Colorado Mines won at New Mexico Highlands, 78-75, to move to 9-11, just a half-game back. New Mexico Highlands and WNMU are now 2.5 games behind UCCS for the final spot.


WNMU will return to action tomorrow night when they host Colorado Mines at 5:30 p.m. Seniors Celaya and Clark will be honored between games.