SILVER CITY, N.M. – The first home RMAC games will take place this weekend for the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team when they will battle Colorado State University-Pueblo on Friday and then Western State Colorado University on Saturday.
First on Friday night CSU-Pueblo will be in town with tip set for 5:30 p.m. WNMU (3-3, 1-0 RMAC) is coming off of a solid 73-59 victory over in-state rival New Mexico Highlands on Saturday. The Lady Mustangs erased a 16-point first half deficit.
Jada Grady (Louisville, KY/Seneca ) and
Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ) are both averaging over eight points per game with Grady at 8.5 and Smith at 8.2. Smith leads the team in assists with 17 and is teals with 13, while Grady leads in three-pointers with 12, connecting on 43 percent from downtown.
Cristiana Yepa (Dulce, NM/Dulce ) (7.8),
Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) (7.5) and
Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) (7.3) are all averaging over seven points per contest.
Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, TX/Terry ) leads the team in rebounds per game at 7.2, while Botelho leads in blocks with four and in field goals made with 19. WNMU makes just over 35 percent (124-353) from the field, while opponents connect on 136-368 (37). WNMU averages 55.8 points per game and opponents come in at 60.8.
WNMU is ranked as a team in the top-five in the RMAC in fewest fouls (91), third in the conference, personal fouls per game (15.2), second in the conference and 18th nationally. Individually in the RMAC Smith is ranked in the top-10 in several categories including seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.00), sixth in free throw attempts (31) and is just outside the top-10 coming in 11th in steals per game (2.17). Williams is eighth in rebounds per game (7.2), while Grady is fifth in three-point field goal percentage (42.9) and ninth in three-point field goals per game (2.00).
CSU-Pueblo is 6-1 on the season and 1-0 in the RMAC following a 20-point win over Western State. After dropping their first game of the season to nationally-ranked Lubbock Christian, the ThunderWolves have won six straight with three coming against Lone Star Conference teams (Midwestern State, Texas Woman's and Texas A&M Commerce).
Tuileisu Anderson (13.7) and Molly Rohrer (13.0) each average over 13 points a game to lead the team. Lauren Heyn leads the team in rebounding at 8.4 per game, while Anderson leads in steals (24) and Rohrer in blocks (14). They make 169-431 (39.2) from the field and opponents connect on 140-409 (34.2). They average 65.9 points per game and allow 55.7 points.
Last year, the teams split the two games winning on the other team's home court. CSU-Pueblo took the earlier meeting in Silver City (63-55) and then the Lady Mustangs came back with a 56-51 win in Pueblo.
On Saturday night Western State will travel to Silver City for a 5:30 p.m. start time. The Mountaineers are 2-1 on the season and 0-1 in the RMAC. They have wins over Dixie State and Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Taylor Long is off to a strong start averaging 20 points per game. Harlie Williams is next on the list at 9.3 per contest. Sydnie Lengyel leads the team in rebounds at 8.0 per game, while three players have four steals and Williams leads in blocks with three. They make 34.6 percent (65-188) from the field and allow 31.4 percent (59-188). They score 62 points per game and allow 63 points per game.
The teams split last year's games with each winning on their home floor. Western State claimed the first meeting, 75-64, before WNMU came back later in the season with the 58-44 victory.
Live video and stats will be available for both games.
