SILVER CITY, N.M. – With three games left in the regular season, the Western New Mexico University basketball teams will get to enjoy the rest of the season at home as they host Adams State University and Fort Lewis College this weekend. It will also be Faculty Appreciation Day on Friday. Faculty, make sure to wear white and receive a free popcorn. Seniors from some of the winter/fall sports have all chosen a faculty member that they will recognize. The ceremony will take place at halftime of the men's contest.
On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs are 8-17 overall and 5-14 in the RMAC. They came close against Colorado Christian this past Friday before the Cougars stormed back to take the win. Juniors
Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) and
Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ) are tied for the team lead in scoring both averaging 10.0 points. Gutierrez leads in three-pointers (46), while Smith leads in assists (78) and steals (51). Sophomore
Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) adds 8.4 points per game and leads the team in blocks (11). Junior
Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, TX/Terry ) leads the team in rebounds at 6.1, while tallying 7.3 points. WNMU averages 57.4 points as a team and allows 66.6. They make 35 percent from the field and opponents connect on 41 percent.
Adams State is 3-19 overall and 2-17 in the RMAC and recently snapped a 14-game losing streak with a 68-64 win over Western State. Ironically it was the Mountaineers that the Grizzlies also beat before starting their slide. Lena Jaycox has been the top threat averaging 13.1 points per game, while Cydney McHenry tallies 10.6 points per contest. Madison Merschel grabs a team-high 4.9 rebounds. The Grizzlies average 53.8 points per game and allow 73.2 per contest. They make 32 percent from the field, while opponents make 43 percent.
WNMU claimed the earlier meeting in Alamosa, 62-49, back on Jan. 23. WNMU and ASU will play at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night.
To close the weekend the Lady Mustangs will face Fort Lewis College. The Skyhawks are 14-10 overall and 10-9 in the RMAC. FLC is 3-2 over their last five games with wins against Chadron State, South Dakota Mines and Western State. They are in eighth place right now in the conference standings holding a one-game lead over MSU Denver for the final spot in the conference tournament. Astrea Reed and Dallas Dickerson each pace the offense averaging over 12 points a game with Reed at 12.8 and Dickerson at 12.2. Mary Rambo leads in rebounds at 6.5 per contest. They average 71.7 points and allow 62.3. They make 39 percent from the field and opponents make 37 percent.
Fort Lewis took the earlier meeting in Durango, 92-68, back on Jan. 22. FLC and WNMU will play at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and both games with have live video and stats.
On the men's side, the Mustangs are 1-23 overall and 1-18 in the RMAC. The Mustangs also came close against Colorado Christian this past Friday before the Cougars took the lead late and grabbed the victory. Freshman
Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) continues to set the pace for the offense at 11 points per game. He also leads the team in steals with 30 and free throws with 86. Juniors
Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) and
Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) each average 9.7 points per game and nearly identical rebound numbers with Range at 5.1 and Loucks at 5.2. Junior
Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) leads in assists with 42, freshman
Carter Aby (San Tan Valley, AZ/Combs) has a team-best 17 blocks and senior
Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver) has 37 three-pointers. WNMU averages 68.0 points and allow 81.6. They make 38 percent from the field, while opponents connect on 45 percent.
ASU enters with a 12-12 overall mark and 11-8 in the RMAC. They are coming off of a tough buzzer-beating loss to Western State. The Grizzlies are currently in seventh in the RMAC standings, holding a one-game lead over both CSU-Pueblo and Colorado Christian. Four players average in double-figure scoring led by Shakir Smith's 21.4 per game. Jendyl Grover adds 11.4, DJ Morgan at 11.2 and Joe Bell Austin tallies 10.6. Grover leads the team in rebounds at 7.5.
ASU took the earlier meeting in Alamosa, 94-88, as the Mustangs held a late lead before the Grizzlies rallied for the win on Jan. 23. WNMU and ASU will play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Mustangs close the weekend on Saturday against Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks come in ranked No. 9 in the NABC Poll and No. 7 in the D2SIDA Media Poll. FLC is 21-3 overall and 16-3 in the RMAC, currently holding a two-game lead in the RMAC for the conference title. They have won nine-straight with their last loss coming back on Jan. 15 at Colorado Mesa. Just like Adams State, four players score in double-figures led by Joshua Blaylock's 17.3 per game. Rasmus Bach tallies 14.6, Cade Kloster with 12.2 and Will Morse at 12.0. Bach leads in rebounds at 5.1 per game. They average 82.7 points per game and allow 71.4. They make 47 percent from the field and opponents connect on 43 percent. They have made 263 three-pointers, hitting on 39 percent.
FLC claimed the first meeting in Durango, 83-67, back on Jan. 22. Fort Lewis and WNMU will play on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Live video, audio and stats will be available for the games. The game can be heard locally on 92.9 FM KSCQ or streaming live on the web at
www.silvercitysports.com. Broadcast begins at 7 p.m. both nights.
