UTPB, West Texas A&M Set to Face Lady Mustangs

SILVER CITY, N.M. – The second part of the Lone Star Conference schedule is here and the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team returns home to face UT Permian Basin and West Texas A&M.

WNMU (4-13, 0-10 LSC) came close last time out falling just short against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Senior guard Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) remains second in the Lone Star Conference in scoring at 17.4 points per game. She sits fourth in free throw percentage (79.5), sixth in three point field goals per game (1.8), sixth in assists per game (3.4) and leads the conference in minutes per game (37.5). Nationally, she ranks high in several categories including fourth in minutes played per game, 56^th in points per game, 67^th in total minutes played (638) and 82^nd in free throws made (70). Gutierrez paced the team in scoring in each of the past two games, with junior Keshaun Clark (Avondale, AZ/Agua Fria) tying for the lead scoring 17 points against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Clark led the team in rebounding against the Javelinas. Junior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) is second on the team in scoring with 10.5 points, along with 4.0 rebounds, 12 blocks and 15 steals. Sophomore Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction ) continues to lead the team in rebounds at 6.8 and adds 6.4 points. She is seventh in the conference in rebounds per game and is third in offensive rebounds per game (3).

As a team, the Lady Mustangs average 58.9 points and allow 73.6. They connect on 34 percent from the field and allow 43 percent. WNMU checks in the top-five in the LSC in a few categories including leading in free throw percentage (75), good for 42^nd nationally, second in fewest fouls (285), 66^th nationally, second and 30^th nationally in fewest turnovers (235), second and 75^th nationally in personal fouls per game (16.8), second and 34^th nationally in turnovers per game (13.8), third and 92^nd nationally in turnover margin (1.59), fourth in three point field goals attempted (324). The offense clicked well last time out with WNMU scoring 62 points, as the Lady Mustangs have gone for 60 in a game in two of the last three contests.

First up on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. will be a matchup with UT Permian Basin. The Falcons are 5-11 overall and 2-8 in the conference, currently riding a four-game losing streak. They are 3-6 away from home in true road contests. In the earlier meeting this season back on Dec. 3 in Odessa, UTPB pulled away late for the 75-63 victory. It was a career night for Gutierrez as she scored a high in points with 36. Jau'nae Peevy led the Falcons with 13 points, as four players scored in double-figures. The Falcons had a tough time in their last game against Tarleton State falling by 27, but before that came close against Texas A&M-Commerce before dropping a seven-point game. Their last win came on the road at Midwestern State in which they claimed the 82-78 win in overtime back on Jan. 7. They average 62.3 points per game and allow 69.8 points, ranking ninth and seventh in the conference respectively. Their minus 7.3 scoring margin ranks just ahead of WNMU. They make 36 percent from the field and allow 42 percent, coming in 10^th and ninth in the LSC.

Briana Caro leads UTPB averaging 13.1 points per game, good for 10^th in the conference. Niva Taito is second on the team averaging 11 points per game. Caro also leads the team in rebounds at 6.1. Peevy, who had the top scoring game against WNMU last time, is averaging 6.2 points per game.

To close the weekend, WNMU will go against West Texas A&M on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Lady Buffs have hit a rough patch this season for their standards as they are 13-6 overall and 6-4 in the conference. Once ranked in the top-10, they are now out of both polls. They are 3-3 away from home in true road games as they fell in both games last week to Tarleton State (64-57) and Texas A&M-Commerce (78-60). The biggest win of the season came during their last home stand when they took the 68-61 win over Angelo State on Jan. 12 in Canyon. They are fourth in the conference in scoring (70.9) and lead the conference allowing just 57.8 points per game. Their 13.2 scoring margin leads the conference. They also lead the way in field goal percentage at 48 and are second in defense allowing 36.9 percent.

Sasha Watson is sixth in the conference in scoring and leads West Texas A&M averaging 14.6 points per game. The Lady Buffs rolled to the 100-52 win in the earlier meeting this season back on Dec. 1 in Canyon. Gutierrez led WNMU with 14 points, while Sydney Watson paced West Texas with 24 points, as four players scored in double-digits. Outside of Watson's scoring, Alie Decker is second with 11.1 points and both Maddison Wild (9.5) and Lexy Hightower (9.0) are close to double-figures. Wild leads the team in rebounds at 6.6 per game, which ranks eighth in the conference.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.

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Players Mentioned

#31 Jade Botelho: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#2 Jordan Gutierrez: G; 5' 3"; Senior

#32 Megan Looney: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#12 Keshaun Clark: F; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#31 Jade Botelho
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#2 Jordan Gutierrez
: 5' 3"; Senior
: G

#32 Megan Looney
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#12 Keshaun Clark
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F