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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Rachel Francisco
57
Winner West Texas A&M WT 6-0, 1-0 LSC
43
Western N.M. WNMU 0-6, 0-1 LSC
Winner
West Texas A&M WT
6-0, 1-0 LSC
57
Final
43
Western N.M. WNMU
0-6, 0-1 LSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
West Texas A&M WT 23 6 19 9 57
Western N.M. WNMU 14 10 10 9 43

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Inspired Lady Mustangs Give No. 5 Lady Buffs a Battle

SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University women's basketball team brought the defensive pressure throughout the game and made life difficult for the fifth-ranked team in the nation. Ultimately in the end, West Texas A&M was able to come through with the plays for 57-43 Lone Star Conference victory Thursday night in the conference opener for both teams.

WNMU (0-6, 0-1 LSC) forced 18 turnovers, sent back three blocks and had seven steals on the night. Freshman Rachel Francisco (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) led the way with 10 points, going 4-7 from the field. She also added two steals. Freshman Cassandra Vickery (Tularosa, NM/Tularosa) and junior Takiyah Lopez (El Paso, TX/Chapin) added eight points apiece, as Lopez also sent back two blocks.

Out of the gate, it looked like West Texas A&M (6-0, 1-0 LSC) had a chance to run away with it, as they started the game on an 18-6 run through the first five minutes. Lopez helped the Lady Mustangs fight back to within eight with a three-pointer at the 3:41 mark.

After the Lady Buffs had the lead back into double-digits, Francisco ended the quarter with a jumper to leave WT with the 23-14 lead after 10 minutes.

The second quarter was a real defensive struggle with the teams combining for just 16 points. The Lady Mustangs scored 10 of those points and pulled to within five with 3:34 to play in the half when Lopez was fouled shooting a three and would promptly hit all three from the line to make it a 27-22 score. The teams traded baskets over the final few minutes, as a Francisco jumper closed the half to leave WT with the 29-24 lead at the break.

WNMU started the second half pulling to within three when Vickery drilled a jumper 14 seconds in. WT pushed the lead as high as 12 again over the next few minutes, but the Lady Mustangs refused to go away. Three-pointers from senior Myla Woods-Brown (Roswell, NM/Roswell) and Frnacisco trimmed the deficit back to six before the Lady Buffs closed the third quarter on a 8-0 run to take a 48-34 lead into the final frame.

The Lady Mustangs still showed some fight in the fourth quarter as they went on a 5-0 run over the first four minutes to pull back to within nine. WT was able to weather the storm, as they utilized a 9-2 run midway through the quarter to pull away for the win.

It was a rough game for both teams as there were 38 combined turnovers and 37 made field goals. WNMU ended up making 15-52 (29) from the field, 6-21 (29) from three and 7-8 (88) at the foul line. WT countered with a 22-48 (46) effort from the field, 4-14 (29) from three and 9-15 (60) at the foul line.

Deleyah Harris had a big game for the Lady Buffs piling up 19 points and pulling down a team-best seven rebounds. Tyesha Taylor reached double-figures with 10 points.

WT held the edge on points off turnovers (24-12), bench points (22-11) and points in the paint (36-16).

WNMU will turn around and face UT Permian Basin this coming Saturday starting at 2 p.m. inside Drag's Court. The Falcons took down Eastern New Mexico 68-63 earlier tonight.
 
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