DURANGO, Colo. – Having just played former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent Fort Lewis College a month ago, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team will head to Durango to face the Skyhawks this coming Monday at 5 p.m.
The Lady Mustangs have been off since a 61-47 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 10. In that game, WNMU fought back to within three in the second half before the Lions were able to pull away. WNMU is 4-6 overall so far this season and 0-4 in Lone Star Conference play. They are 0-3 on the road in true road games this season and 3-0 in neutral site contests.
Senior
Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) leads the team averaging 17.2 point per game, along with 28 assists, two blocks, 17 steals and 22 three-pointers made. She has started all 10 games. Junior
Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) is next on the list at 10.1 points per game, while grabbing 4.6 rebounds. She also adds seven blocks and nine steals while starting in every game this year. Sophomore
Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction ) averages 4.1 points per game, but has made a big impact on the glass bringing down a team-best 5.6 rebounds. Senior
Jayla Brown (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista ) had a strong game last time out going for 10 points, while junior
Shoniquia Coleman (Austin, TX/Colony) led the way with a team-high 17 points, as she averages 7.3 points per game. The Lady Mustangs average nearly 62 points per game and allow 70 points, they make 35 percent from the field and allow 42 percent. They have forced 45 more turnovers than committed so far this year.
The Lady Mustangs rank in the top-three in the Lone Star Conference in several categories. They lead the conference and rank 20
th nationally in turnovers per game (12.9), second in fewest turnovers (129), turnover margin (4.50) and third in steals (80), three point field goals attempted (197) and three point field goals made (62).
Individually, Gutierrez is ranked high in the conference in multiple categories. She leads the conference in field goals attempted (143), 44
th nationally, minutes played (363), 39
th nationally, minutes played per game (36:30), 21
st nationally and in three point field goals made (22). She is second in field goals made (55), free throws made (40), points per game (17.2) and three point field goals attempted (57). She checks in third in free throw percentage (81.6), fourth in free throws attempted (49), three point field goals per game (2.20) and three point field goal percentage (38.6). She is fifth in assists (28) and field goal percentage (38.5). Botelho is fifth in field goals attempted (113) and Looney is fourth in offensive rebounds per game (3). Coleman is fifth in steals (18).
WNMU will face a Fort Lewis team that is 7-2 on the season and 3-2 in the RMAC. They play at home against Westminster on Saturday before facing the Lady Mustangs.
The Skyhawks received big games from Natalie Stilwell, Alyssa Yocky, Kayla Herrera and Briana Clah in the earlier meeting as the foursome combined for 52 points in leading FLC to the 72-54 victory. The first half was big, as they outscored the Lady Mustangs 48-22 and held off a late rally by WNMU. They are currently on a two-game winning streak defeating Western State (56-39) and Adams State (63-48).
Clah leads the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, while Yocky adds 10.4 points and 8.0 rebounds and Herrera with 9.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. The Skyhawks average 64 points per game and allow 54 points, they make 38 percent from the field and hold opponents to a 31 percent clip.
Live video, stats and audio will be available for the game.
