RAPID CITY/SPEARFISH, S.D. – A long trek up north awaits the Western New Mexico University basketball teams this week when they travel to South Dakota to face South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State on Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Mustangs are 4-4 on the season and 2-1 in RMAC play following a win against Western State on Saturday. Jada Grady (Louisville, KY/Seneca ) leads the team in scoring averaging 9.5 points per game. She has connected on 17 three-pointers, making 40.2 percent from downtown. Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ) adds 8.4 points, along with a team-best 26 assists and 19 steals. Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) is third in scoring at 7.6 points per game and is second in three-pointers made with nine. Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, TX/Terry ) leads the team in rebounds per game at 6.9. WNMU averages 56.1 points per game and allow 62.1 per contest.

WNMU ranks in the top-100 nationally in a few categories including fewest fouls (112), 15th nationally and first in the RMAC, fewest turnovers (128), 88th nationally and eighth in the RMAC, personal fouls per game (14.0), third nationally and first in the RMAC, turnover margin (2.25), 83rd nationally and fourth in the RMAC and turnovers forced per game (18.25), 100th nationally and fourth in the RMAC.

Individually, Smith is ranked high in several RMAC categories including sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.13), fourth in assists (27), sixth in assists per game (3.4), sixth in steals (19), and seventh in steals per game (2.38), 74th nationally. Williams is 10th in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (3) and eighth in rebounds per game (6.9). Grady is fifth in the conference in three categories that include three point field goals made (17), three point field goals per game (2.13) and three point field goal percentage (40.2), which ranks her 70th nationally.

The Lady Mustangs will open with South Dakota Mines on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Hardrockers are 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC. They won last time out at Chadron State claiming a 71-64 victory. They also came close in their other two RMAC games also away at Black Hills State (51-43) and Regis (67-59). Kahlie Peterson leads the team averaging 13.1 points per game as they have four players averaging in double-figures including Megan Rohrer (12.7), Taylor Molstad (10.9) and Devyn Asche (10.9). Asche nearly averages a double-double bringing down 8.1 rebounds per contest. They average 70.0 points per game and allow 64.7.

The following night on Saturday at 4 p.m. WNMU will play at Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets are 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the RMAC. Following an opening RMAC win over South Dakota Mines they have a 63-46 win over Chadron State and a 76-65 win at Regis. Bailey Kusser and Christine Thorn lead the team in scoring averaging 10.4 points and 10.0 points respectively. They average 71.0 points per game and allow 51.0 points.
WNMU defeated Black Hills State last year in Silver City, 56-44.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.

On the men's side, the Mustangs have come close after dropping a 64-61 decision to Western State and an 80-77 contest against CSU-Pueblo this past weekend. That makes four games this season that have been decided by a possession. The Mustangs are 0-8 on the season and 0-3 in the RMAC. Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) leads the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game, while Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) adds 10.6 per contest. Range leads the team in rebounds at 7.0 per night. McCray leads in steals with nine, while Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) leads in assists with 16 and Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) has a team-high 12 blocks. They average 70.5 points per game and allow 78.9 points.

Nationally, WNMU ranks high in a lot of categories nationally in the top-100. Blocked shots per game (4.1), 54th nationally and first in the RMAC, defensive rebounds per game (30.25), 17th nationally and first in the RMAC, field goal percentage (40.3), 34th nationally and first in the RMAC, steals per game (7.5), 92nd nationally and second in the RMAC, three point field goal defense (30.4), 31st nationally and first in the RMAC, total blocks (33), 82nd nationally and first in the RMAC and in turnovers forced per game (16.88), 44th nationally and first in the RMAC. They also rank in the top-five in the RMAC in a few other categories that include fifth in free throw attempts (215), and fifth in total steals (60).

Individually, Fall, Range and McCray show up in a few categories. Fall is 81st nationally and third in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (1.50) and 102nd nationally and third in the RMAC in total blocks (12). Range is 92nd nationally and fifth in the RMAC in defensive rebounds per game (5.75) and is eighth in the RMAC in rebounds per game (7.0). McCray is 85th nationally and fifth in the RMAC in free throw attempts (58) and 114th nationally and sixth in the RMAC in free throws made (40).

WNMU will open up the week against South Dakota Mines on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Hardrockers are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the RMAC. They have wins over Black Hills State (78-73) and Chadron State (66-60) on the road to start the season. They ran into a hot-shooting Regis team in-between and suffered their first loss of the conference slate, 110-72. Konor Kulas leads the way averaging 19.6 points and also brings down 9.0 rebounds. Jamall Taylor adds 10.0 points. They average 79.6 points per game and allow 80.1 points.

The next night on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. the Mustangs will go against Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets are 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC. Their win came this past weekend at Regis, 84-59. Nick Ongarato leads the team in scoring at 20.7 points. Riley Ryan adds 14.4 points per game. He also leads the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. They average 78.7 points, while allowing 72 points.
Black Hills State came away with the 59-54 victory in Silver City last year.

Live video, audio and stats will be available for both games. The games can be heard locally on 92.9 FM KSCQ or streaming live on the web at www.silvercitysports.com. Broadcast begins at 7 p.m. Friday and 5:30 p.m. Saturday.