Vickery, Fields Post Big Games Against Rattlers

Box Score LUBBOCK, Texas – Freshman Cassandra Vickery (Tularosa, NM/Tularosa) and junior Ciara Fields (El Paso, TX/El Dorado) combined for 37 points as the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team nearly claimed a late victory against St. Mary's before the Rattlers held on for the 64-60 victory Saturday night.

Vickery tallied 19 points on 7-13 shooting, making 5-7 from three, along with four rebounds, an assist and two steals. Fields added 18 points on 6-18 shooting, 3-8 from three, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Senior Melody McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View) just missed out on double-figures with nine points.

McLaughlin and junior Takiyah Lopez (El Paso, TX/Chapin) helped boost the Lady Mustangs (0-4) to the early 5-2 lead. Junior Ashton Carrasco (El Paso, TX/Canutillo) kept WNMU in front 12-10 before St. Mary's (2-3) came back with a 7-0 run to open up a 17-12 lead with three minutes to go in the first quarter.

WNMU cut a point off the deficit on a foul shot by McLaughlin to leave the Rattlers with a 17-13 lead through the first 10 minutes.

St. Mary's controlled play for a majority of the second quarter, but the Lady Mustangs made a late run when junior Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction) hit a jumper and Vickery dialed long distance to cut the lead to two at 29-27. The Rattlers added a layup with 38 seconds left to take a 31-27 lead into halftime.

St. Mary's threatened to put the game out of reach late in the third quarter when they took their largest lead of the game at 10, 48-38, and they would take a 48-39 lead into the final quarter after Looney hit a foul shot to close the third.

The final frame started the way the Lady Mustangs needed it to start as they quickly erased the deficit and fought back to within a point as McLaughlin and Vickery hit back-to-back three-pointers to leave the Rattlers with a 52-51 lead with six minutes to play.

Over the next five minutes, WNMU could only tally a point while St. Mary's added five points to their lead moving in front 58-52 with a minute to go in the game.
The Rattlers hit 8-10 foul shots down the stretch to hold on for the win as Fields ended the game connecting on a three-pointer.

Four players scored in double-figures to lead St. Mary's with Arysia Porter going for 23 points. She nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds. Alexia Torres, Hannah Wilson and Soteria Banks all tallied 10 points apiece.

WNMU made 20-55 (36) from the field, 11-28 (39) from three and 9-16 (56) from the foul line. St. Mary's actually made the exact same from the field going 20-55 (36), 4-15 (27) from three and 20-24 (83) at the charity stripe.

WNMU held the advantage on second-chance (15-8) and bench points (26-12). St. Mary's used a solid 28-14 edge on points in the paint.

WNMU will now return home for their home opener against New Mexico Highlands this coming Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#50 Ashton Carrasco: F; 6' 4"; Junior

#10 Takiyah Lopez: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#20 Ciara Fields: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#13 Cassandra Vickery: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#50 Ashton Carrasco
: 6' 4"; Junior
: F

#10 Takiyah Lopez
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#20 Ciara Fields
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#13 Cassandra Vickery
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G