SILVER CITY, N.M. – After starting with a 20-13 lead through the first quarter, Colorado State University-Pueblo came back against the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team to take the 77-52 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Friday night.

WNMU (3-4, 1-1 RMAC) posted the first four points of the game with baskets by Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) and Jada Grady (Louisville, KY/Seneca ). Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ) stretched the lead to nine at 16-7 with just under three minutes to go in the opening quarter with a pair of foul shots. Smith led the way for the Lady Mustangs going for 12 points on 4-10 shooting.

CSU-Pueblo (7-1, 2-0 RMAC), ranked No. 19 in the latest Division II Media Poll,  trimmed two points off the deficit leaving WNMU with the 20-13 lead after the first quarter.

Smith had the Lady Mustangs still in front near the midway point of the second quarter with her jumper in the paint at the 5:59 mark for the 24-21 lead.

An 8-0 run followed for the ThunderWolves and they wouldn't look back. A Jayla Brown (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista ) jumper near the end of the half brought WNMU back to within three at the break at 31-28.

CSU-Pueblo responded out of the locker room going on a 16-0 run over the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter to open a 47-28 lead. The ThunderWolves ended up outscoring the Lady Mustangs 30-5 in the third quarter to take a 61-33 lead into the final frame.

WNMU closed the game posting a 19-16 scoring edge on CSU-Pueblo. Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, TX/Terry ) helped ignite an 8-0 run with three jumpers along with a basket by Botelho that had WNMU back to within 19 at 66-47.

That would be as close as they could get the rest of the way with the ThunderWolves taking the 77-52 victory.

Smith was the only Lady Mustang to reach double-figures. Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) was next in scoring with seven points. Myla Woods-Brown (Roswell, NM/Roswell ) and Williams led in rebounds with five apiece. Botelho came away with three steals.

Tuileisu Anderson paced the ThunderWolves and all-scorers going for 17 points. Ashley Piper added 13 and Lauren Heyn had 12.

CSU-Pueblo shot well from the field making 31-54 (57.4), while WNMU hit on 20-61 (32.8). CSU-Pueblo made four more three-pointers (8-4) and neither team shot many free throws with WNMU holding an 8-7 advantage. The ThunderWolves also utilized a strong advantage on points in the paint (38-14) and fastbreak (25-0).

WNMU will return to action tomorrow night at home against Western State Colorado University beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Mountaineers claimed a 63-38 win over New Mexico Highlands earlier tonight.