LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The regular season officially begins this weekend for the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team when they head to the New Mexico Highlands University Conference Challenge. WNMU will face Oklahoma Panhandle State and Rogers State.

The Lady Mustangs played a strong exhibition contest against Arizona on Tuesday. WNMU made eight three-pointers and held the Wildcats to a 14 percent clip (2-14) from long range. Junior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) tallied 14 points and senior Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) added 12 points.

Oklahoma Panhandle State went 2-24 last year and 1-17 in the Heartland Conference. WNMU edged the Aggies in the first game of the 2015-16 season when Botelho hit the game-winning shot for the 61-60 victory that took place in Goodwell, Okla. OPSU loses their top-four scorers from last year with Hannah Whitaker the top returning scoring at 5.0 points per game. She also added 6.4 rebounds per game. WNMU will face OPSU at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Rogers State has played two exhibition contests against Tulsa and Oral Roberts, both losses. They stayed close with Oral Roberts falling by 17 (77-60). Natasha Kindred led the Hillcats with 12 points, while Lauren Schuldt added 10. They made 41 percent (25-61) from the field and went 5-16 (31) from three-point range. Kindred is the top returning scorer from last year averaging 9.8 points per game. WNMU will face Rogers State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Following the conference challenge, WNMU will play their home opener on Monday against Fort Lewis at 5 p.m.