SILVER CITY, N.M. – Following a big weekend road split and four home games coming up, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team looks to continue to try and climb up the conference rankings this weekend.

WNMU will face Fort Lewis College on Friday and then Adams State University on Saturday, both games will tip at 5:30 p.m. Friday will also be Purple Out night where WNMU students that show up to the women's game prior to tip-off will receive a free shirt. The Lady Mustangs, now with eight conference wins are tied with Regis and MSU Denver for sixth. They remain just one game back of Black Hills State and CSU-Pueblo for fourth.

Fort Lewis (10-8, 7-7 RMAC) is 4-6 away from Durango this year and dropped their game this past Saturday at Adams State (77-74). They are 2-3 on the road in their past five games. The Lady Skyhawks average 63.8 points and allow 60.7 points per game, while shooting 37.9 percent and yield just a 35.1 percent clip on defense.

FLC took the earlier meeting this season in Durango, 64-52. Mary Brinton powers the offense leading the team in both points per game (14.1) and rebounds (6.4). Kate Bayes (8.8) and Kaile Magazzeni (8.6) are next in terms of scoring.

The next night on Saturday, Adams State (3-15, 3-11 RMAC) will come to Silver City. The Lady Grizzlies are 0-8 away from Alamosa this season and prior to their win against FLC were on a four-game losing streak.
ASU averages 56.7 points per game and allows 72.4. They make roughly 30 percent from the field, while opponents connect on 45.5 percent. Desiree Anderson leads the team in 13.2 points per game, while Mariah Gonzales tallies 12.6 and Emilie Klint with nine. The Lady Mustangs held off ASU in their previous meeting to claim a 70-63 victory.

WNMU (11-8, 8-7 RMAC) matched their win total from last year and have already surpassed their win total in conference games this season. The Lady Mustangs average 64.6 points per game and allow 58.7. They make 39.4 percent from the field and allow just a 37.2 percent clip from opponents.

Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) leads the team in points per game (13.1), three-pointers (29) and also adds 51 assists and 27 steals. RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) (9.4), Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) (9.3) and Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) (8.5) all average over eight points per game. Newsome leads the team in assists (109) and steals (46). Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) leads in rebounds at 7.3 per game.

In terms of NCAA national rankings WNMU continues to lead the nation in three-point defense (22.8), as well as the RMAC. WNMU ranks high in several other categories including 29^th in assist-to-turnover (1.05), which is first in the RMAC, 27^th in scoring defense (58.7), second in the RMAC, 21^st in turnover margin (4.58), second in the RMAC and 21^st in turnovers per game (13.7), which leads the RMAC.

Individually, Newsome is 12^th in the NCAA in assists per game (5.7), which leads the RMAC. She is 47^th in steals per game (2.42), good for second in the RMAC and she is also seventh in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover (1.36).

Other players ranking high in RMAC individual stats include Moore who is fourth in field goal percentage (53), Newsome eighth in three-point percentage (40.8) and is ninth in minutes played (31.9).

Live stats and video will be available for both games.