DURANGO/ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University women's basketball team, currently tied for eighth with two other teams, hits the road this week to play at Fort Lewis College and Adams State University.


The Lady Mustangs, 9-11 overall and 6-9 in the RMAC, are tied with UC-Colorado Springs and Colorado Mines for the eighth and final RMAC Tournament spot with just a few weeks left in the season. They are just two wins each behind Colorado Christian (8-7), Metro State (8-7) and Fort Lewis (8-6). This week, WNMU plays a Fort Lewis team currently in fifth at 8-6 in the RMAC and 11-7 overall and Adams State, currently in 13^th at 3-11 in the RMAC.


First on Friday night at 5:30 p.m., WNMU will play at Fort Lewis. The Lady Mustangs came away with an exciting 71-68 victory over Fort Lewis in their first meeting back on Jan. 11. WNMU erased a late eight-point deficit to beat the Skyhawks for the first time in their last 16 tries. FLC has won two straight and four of their last five with their only loss coming at Colorado Christian (66-65). They have rolled up wins over Regis (79-61), Metro State (78-57), Colorado Mines (75-60), and Adams State (64-52).


Erika Richards has led the offense scoring 16 per game, followed by Ashley Kuchar (15.3) and Christie Groh (14.2). Mary Brinton is close to averaging double-digits (9.6). Groh leads the team in rebounding at 6.0 per contest.


The Grizzlies are 3-16 overall in addition to their 3-11 RMAC mark. They have lost six straight with their last win coming on Jan 10 in Silver City, 52-45. Mariah Gonzales (10.6) and Emilie Klint (10.2), lead the offense, with Desiree Anderson chipping in another 9.2 per game. Adams State will face the Lady Mustangs on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m.


WNMU ranks second in offensive rebounds in the RMAC at 14.5 per game, first in turnover margin (4.50), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (0.89), fourth in assists per game (14.60) and second in steals per game (11).


WNMU split their games this past weekend, defeating UC-Colorado Springs (77-62) and falling to CSU-Pueblo (66-57). Junior point guard RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) leads the team in scoring (13.5), steals (47), assists (89), free throws (63), field goals (94) and in minutes per game (29.7). Junior guard Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) averages 12.4 points per game and leads the team in three-pointers (40) and is second in assists (58). Junior center Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) pours in 11.2 per night and 4.3 rebounds. Junior forward Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) leads the team in rebounding at 8.4 per night and also scores 8.3 per game.


Individually in the RMAC, Hernandez is fifth in rebounding (8.4), Mitchell is second in three-pointers per game (2.4) and fifth in three-point percentage (37), Newsome is tied for third in assists per game (4.5) and third in steals (2.4).