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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Basketball Seniors
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
Seniors from left to right: Cristiana Yepa, My'Kale French, Adam Kesler and Makhtar Fall.

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Basketball Caps 2015-16 Season This Friday With Senior Day Versus N.M. Highlands

SILVER CITY, N.M. -- The Western New Mexico University basketball teams will put a close to the 2015-16 season this Friday when they welcome in-state rival New Mexico Highlands to Drag's Court this Friday.

It will be senior night for My'Kale French (Racine, WI/Case ), Cristiana Yepa (Dulce, NM/Dulce ), Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) and Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver). The seniors will be honored between games. A recap of each player's career is below:

No. 20 My'Kale French (Racine, WI/Case ), Guard, Racine, Wis., Lake Region State College/Case High School

WNMU (2015-16): French has played in every game this season, starting 10. She averages 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, along with 57 field goals, 12 three-pointers, 44 free throws, 30 assists and 26 steals. She scored in double-figures seven times this year with a high of 20 coming against MSU Denver. She posted five steals against Adams State.

WNMU (2014-15): French saw action in 19 games in her first season with the Lady Mustangs averaging 7.2 minutes per game, 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest. In addition she added eight steals, a block, nine assists and three, three-pointers. She had a season-high 10 points against Western State.

LRSC: Transfer in from Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D. French is a 5-foot-6 guard originally from Racine, Wis., that helped lead the team to a 29-5 mark this past season, won the Regional Championship and played in the NJCAA National Tournament. She started 33 of 34 games at the point guard position and averaged 8.5 points, 3.7 assists, 3.2 steals and 5.4 rebounds. During her freshman campaign, she helped the team to a 24-7 mark playing in 28 games and averaged 7.3 points, 1.9 steals, shot 88 percent from the free throw line and 43 percent from three-point range.

No. 34 Cristiana Yepa (Dulce, NM/Dulce ), Guard/Forward, 5-9, Dulce, N.M., Ellsworth CC/Dulce High School

WNMU (2015-16): Yepa has played in 19 games this season averaging 3.6 points, 2.6 rebounds along with 17 assists, five steals, 23 field goals and 10 three-pointers. She has scored in double-figures twice with a high of 11 coming against Oklahoma Panhandle State. She pulled down a high of six rebounds twice, last coming versus South Dakota Mines.

WNMU (2014-15): Yepa played in five games where she played 22 minutes, scored nine points, brought down 12 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. She scored a season-high five points against the University of the Southwest and also had a season-high six rebounds in that same game.

ECC: Yepa played two years at Ellsworth Community College where she was named Third-Team All-Conference.

High School: During her playing career at Dulce, was named First-Team All-District both junior and senior years. 

No. 33 Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr), 6-8/220, Morocco, Chandler Gilbert College/Ecole Al Jabr High School

WNMU (2015-16): Fall has seen action in 26 games, starting 12. He averages 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, along with eight assists, 19 blocks, 14 steals, 56 field goals and 31 free throws. He reached double-figures in scoring twice collecting a high of 16 against Oklahoma Panhandle State. He pulled down a high in rebounds with nine also against Oklahoma Panhandle State, nearly getting a double-double.

CGC: He played in 29 games at Chandler Gilbert College where he started 28. He averaged 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds, while also shooting 52 percent from the field.

No. 34 Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver), Guard, 6-0/165, Silver City, N.M., Silver High School

WNMU (2015-16): Kesler, known for his long range shooting ability, has connected on 41 three-pointers this season. He has played in 24 games this year, starting 11. He averages 8.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, along with 18 assists, 20 steals and 70 field goals. He has reached double-figures in scoring 12 times with a career-high 21 points against CSU-Pueblo. He hit four three-pointers in a game twice with the last coming versus Adams State.

WNMU (2014-15): Kesler played in 25 games where he averaged 5.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and also added six assists, two blocks and 12 steals in averaging 10.9 minutes per contest. He also connected on 40 field goals and 18 three-pointers. He tied a career-high 18 points against UC-Colorado Springs where he made 7-of-8 from the field and went a perfect 4-fo-4 from three-point range. He scored double-digits in four games and added a season-high four steals versus Fort Lewis.

WNMU (2013-14): Kesler played in 24 games, starting 20. He averaged 7.2 points per game, 1.6 rebounds. He also added 23 three-pointers, 25 steals, 33 assists and 173 field goals in 23.6 minutes per contest. He scored a high of 18 points against Adams State and scored 10 or more points five times. He connected on three three-pointers in a game three times.

WNMU (2012-13): Played in six games as a true freshman, had three assists.

High School (Career): Two-Time All-District Player and was named to the All-South All-Star squad once. Team won both the District and Regional Championships his senior year.

On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs enter with a 9-18 overall record and 6-15 mark in the RMAC. They split this past weekend defeating Adams State, before falling to Fort Lewis. Juniors Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ) and Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) lead the offense with Smith averaging 10.0 points and Gutierrez with 9.8. Junior Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, TX/Terry ) has pulled down a team-high 6.3 rebounds. WNMU averages 57.8 points and allows 65.9. They make 35 percent and opponents connect on 40 percent.

NMHU snapped an eight-game losing streak with their win over Adams State. Their last two victories have both come against the Grizzlies. They are 4-21 overall and 2-19 in the RMAC. Michelle Tranynham leads the team at 15.0 points per game, while Guilia Simioni tallies 10.1. Kristy Marquez leads in rebounds at 5.4 per contest. They average 58.7 points per game and allow 70.7. They make 35 percent from the floor and opponents make 41 percent.

WNMU took the earlier meeting clear back on Dec. 5 to start conference play, 73-59. The Lady Mustangs erased an early deficit to come back and take the victory.

Live stats and video will be available for the game that starts at 5:30 p.m.

On the men's side, the Mustangs come in 1-25 and 1-20 in the RMAC. Freshman Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) has had a stellar first season leading the team at 10.9 points per game, while junior Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) adds 9.8 and junior Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) at 9.4. Loucks leads in rebounds at 5.3 per game. WNMU averages 67.6 points and allows 82.3. They make 38 percent from the field, while opponents connect on 46 percent.

NMHU is 14-13 overall and 13-8 in the RMAC having already clinched a spot in the RMAC Tournament. Four players average in double-figures led by Jonathon Mines' 22.1. Marlon Johnson (15.2), Kendrick Nichols (15.0) and Ron Lawton (13.5) round out the group. Johnson nearly averages a double-double pulling in 9.2 rebounds. They average 82.7 points per game and allow 85.3. They make 47 percent from the field, while opponents connect on 45 percent.

The Cowboys pulled away for the win in the first meeting taking the 84-64 victory.

Live video, audio and stats will be available for the game. 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. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Adam Kesler

#34 Adam Kesler

G
6' 0"
Senior
Steven Loucks

#14 Steven Loucks

F/G
6' 7"
Junior
Willie McCray

#23 Willie McCray

G
6' 1"
Freshman
My

#20 My'Kale French

G
5' 6"
Senior
Jordan Gutierrez

#2 Jordan Gutierrez

G
5' 3"
Junior
Cristiana  Yepa

#34 Cristiana Yepa

G/F
5' 9"
Senior
Desiree Smith

#23 Desiree Smith

G
5' 7"
Junior
Deandra Williams

#50 Deandra Williams

F
5' 11"
Junior
Emery Range

#5 Emery Range

G
6' 5"
Junior
Makhtar  Fall

#33 Makhtar Fall

F
6' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Adam Kesler

#34 Adam Kesler

6' 0"
Senior
G
Steven Loucks

#14 Steven Loucks

6' 7"
Junior
F/G
Willie McCray

#23 Willie McCray

6' 1"
Freshman
G
My

#20 My'Kale French

5' 6"
Senior
G
Jordan Gutierrez

#2 Jordan Gutierrez

5' 3"
Junior
G
Cristiana  Yepa

#34 Cristiana Yepa

5' 9"
Senior
G/F
Desiree Smith

#23 Desiree Smith

5' 7"
Junior
G
Deandra Williams

#50 Deandra Williams

5' 11"
Junior
F
Emery Range

#5 Emery Range

6' 5"
Junior
G
Makhtar  Fall

#33 Makhtar Fall

6' 8"
Senior
F