GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The defense limited Colorado Mesa University to just 30 points in the first half and an 0-12 effort from three-point range to give the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team a 43-30 lead at the break. The Mavericks rebounded with a big second half to comeback for the 84-74 victory in the final game of the Holiday Inn and Suites Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday.

WNMU (4-2) started with a 20-11 lead through the first quarter and then added a 23-point second quarter for the 13-point halftime lead. CMU (3-1) rallied with a 24-point third and 30-point fourth quarter to rally for the win.

Junior Jeylynn Fields (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande) continues to not be denied posting another 20-point game going for a game-high 22 points, making 8-20 from the field and 5-11 from deep. Senior Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) (14) and junior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) (10) also reached double-figures in scoring. Sophomore Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction ) nearly had a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds, to go along with eight points.

Rebounding was big throughout the game with CMU holding the massive 55-30 edge on the glass, with 21 coming on the offensive end.

Trailing 3-2, a Gutierrez jumper helped spark a 7-0 run to give WNMU a lead they would keep into the second half. She added two more free throws before Fields concluded the run with a trey. The lead reached 11 a couple of times before the end of the quarter, before finally settling on a 20-11 lead after the first 10 minutes.

Junior R'Trevia Randolph (Red Oak, TX/Red Oak) kicked off the second quarter in style with a three-pointer 11 seconds in to give WNMU their largest lead of the night at the time of 12, 23-11.
The Mavericks threatened to get back into it right before halftime trimming the deficit to seven, just to watch WNMU wrap up the final 1:13 strong. Fields and Gutierrez calmly hit three-pointers to boost the lead to 13, 43-30, at halftime.

Fields still had WNMU holding the double-digit lead nearly three minutes into the third when she dialed long distance once again for the 46-34 lead. CMU began to chip away, eventually tying the score at 54 with a minute to go in the third. Fields closed the quarter hitting another three to keep WNMU in front at 57-54 heading into the final quarter.

A Fields fastbreak jumper in the paint a minute into the fourth quarter turned out to be the final lead for the Lady Mustangs at 59-57. The Mavericks responded with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to put them in front the rest of the way.

Junior Keshaun Clark (Avondale, AZ/Agua Fria) made things interesting near the midway point of the fourth when she hit a three leaving CMU with just a one-point lead at 65-64. The Mavericks wouldn't be denied closing the game outscoring WNMU by nine points to claim the 10-point victory.

WNMU went 26-65 (40) from the field, 9-24 (38) from three and 13-21 (62) at the charity stripe. CMU rebounded to shoot 30-68 (44) from the floor, 5-24 (21) from three and 19-23 (83) from the foul line. WNMU had a big advantage on bench points (42-21), while CMU had the strong edge on points in the paint (48-27).

The Lady Mustangs will have a quick turnaround as they will host New Mexico Highlands on Monday at 5:30 p.m. inside Drag's Court.