SILVER CITY, N.M. – Powered by juniors Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ), Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, TX/Terry ) and sophomore Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) combining to score 59 points, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team worked their way back to defeat Northern New Mexico College 81-77 Monday night.

The trio led the offense with Williams and Botelho each scoring 21 points (both season-highs for each player and career-high for Botelho), while Smith added 17. Williams went for a double-double bringing down 10 rebounds.

NNMC (11-19) came out firing in the first half connecting on 14-29 (48) from the field, including five three-pointers. WNMU also shot well making 14-35 (40) that included three three-pointers.

WNMU (8-15) held the early 8-4 lead on a layup by Botelho. The Lady Mustangs kept the lead at four throughout the opening quarter taking a 16-12 lead into the second.

Junior Jada Grady (Louisville, KY/Seneca ) dialed long distance at the 8:06 mark to move WNMU back in front, 19-16. The Eagles responded in a big way going on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to hold their largest lead of the night at nine, 30-21.

WNMU chipped away and junior Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) hit a clutch three-pointer to close the half leaving NNMC with the 35-31 lead at halftime.

Cheyenne Cordova had a big first half for the Eagles going for 18 points, making 7-10 from the field. Botelho paced the Lady Mustangs with eight points.

The Lady Mustangs still trailed for nearly half of the third quarter when a Smith fastbreak layup moved the lead back to four with 4:14 to play in the quarter. The teams traded leads before the Eagles took a 57-55 lead into the final quarter.

Following the ninth tie of the game a few minutes in, the Lady Mustangs were finally able to start pulling away. Botelho hit a fasbtreak layup off a steal by senior My'Kale French (Racine, WI/Case ) and after a free throw by junior Kenzie Rinehart (Deming, NM/Deming ), Williams hit a jumper in the paint to boost WNMU to their largest lead of the game of eight, 68-60.

NNMC didn't go away quietly as they moved back to within two at the 3:41 mark, but the Lady Mustangs kept up the pressure and went on a 6-0 run to put the game out of reach. Smith, Williams, Gutierrez and Botelho all contributed points during the spurt.

Both teams shot well for the game with WNMU making 29-62 (47), 4-14 (29) from three-point range and 19-31 (61) at the foul line. The Eagles countered with a 25-60 (42) effort, 10-29 (35) from three and 17-24 (71) at the charity stripe.

Cordova continued to have a strong game for NNMC as she finished with a game-high 26 points making 8-12 from the field.

WNMU will hit the road this week as they will play at Colorado Christian Friday night at 5 p.m.