Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz. – Head Coach
Lauren Unger and the new-looked Western New Mexico University women's basketball team put up a strong fight against Division I Arizona Tuesday night in exhibition play before the Wildcats eventually took the 77-48 victory.
WNMU forced 18 turnovers, in which they cashed in for 17 points and also connected on eight three-pointers. The Lady Mustangs held the Wildcats to just a 14 percent (2-14) effort from three-point range. Three scored in double-figures led by 14 from junior
Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ). She made 6-14 from the field and added a rebound and assist. Senior
Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) continued her hot shooting from downtown right into the next season as all 12 of her points came on four long balls. Newcomer junior
Keshaun Clark (Avondale, AZ/Agua Fria) added 11 points. Sophomore
Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction ) grabbed five rebounds.
Gutierrez gave WNMU their first lead of the night just over a minute into the first quarter hitting a three-pointer for the 3-2 lead. Botelho stepped back and hit a three two minutes later to tie the game up at six.
Arizona closed the rest of the first quarter strong on a 11-0 run to take a 17-6 lead into the second.
The Wildcats continued with the pressure in the second and took a 37-18 lead into halftime.
The Lady Mustangs came out strong in the third quarter, as they were only outscored by one (16-15) and it would be the first of two straight 15-point quarters to close the game. Botelho, Clark and Gutierrez posted a majority of the points in the third, but newcomer junior
Jeylynn Fields (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande) added a jumper.
In the final quarter, WNMU kept the deficit around 20 most of the way, getting it back to 19 on a three by Gutierrez just over a minute in. Fields and Clark added jumpers near the midway point of the quarter to keep the lead at 20 before Arizona went on a 12-3 run the rest of the way to claim the 77-48 exhibition win.
WNMU ended up shooting 19-56 (34) from the field, going 8-25 (32) from three and 2-4 (50) at the charity stripe. Arizona connected on 28-60 (47) and were 19-27 (70) at the foul line. LaBrittney Jones led the Wildcats with 15 points, followed by 13 each from Destiny Graham and Farrin Bell.
The Lady Mustangs will open the regular season this weekend when they compete in the New Mexico Highlands Challenge. They will face Oklahoma Panhandle on Friday at 2 p.m. and then against Rogers State on Saturday at 4 p.m.
