Vickery Scores in Double-Figures in Exhibition Contest at Arizona

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Freshman Cassandra Vickery (Tularosa, NM/Tularosa) reached double-figures tallying 12 points as the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team ran into a tough matchup with the University of Arizona Monday night with the Wildcats claiming the 80-36 exhibition victory.

WNMU put together their best quarter in the third piling up 15 points. They added 10 more in the fourth. The Lady Mustangs committed just 12 turnovers and forced 11. They came close in blocks posting two to four for Arizona, while coming away with six steals to seven for Arizona.

Vickery and senior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani) each connected on four field goals with Botelho ending up with eight points. Senior Melody McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View) made three from the field, including a three-pointers to score seven points. Vickery also led the team in rebounds with six, while McLaughlin, junior Takiyah Lopez (El Paso, TX/Chapin) and Vickery dished out two assists each.

Botelho put the first points on the board just over a minute in with a jumper. WNMU got to within a point on a three-pointer by Lopez at the 7:31 mark of the first quarter to leave the Wildcats with a 6-5 lead.

After Arizona jumped in front by seven, Vickery had the deficit back to five with a jumper with three minutes to go in the quarter. Arizona finished the first quarter on a 4-1 run to take a 16-8 lead into the second frame.

A jumper by McLaughlin and then a free throw by Vickery got WNMU as close as they would get the rest of the first half to within eight at 19-11 before the Wildcats exploded over the final five minutes of the half going on a 15-0 run for a 34-11 lead at the break.

McLaughlin and redshirt junior Lucy Benning (El Paso, TX/El Paso) each dialed long distance midway through the third quarter and after junior Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction) hit a jumper, WNMU was back to within 18 at 42-24. Similar to the second quarter, Arizona caught fire to end the third on a 15-2 run for a 57-26 lead heading into the final quarter.

McLaughlin and Botelho hit on a pair of baskets early in the fourth quarter to get back to within 28 before Arizona went on to take the 80-36 victory.

Bennett paced Arizona with 19 points, followed by 18 from Kyles. Graham had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats made 46 percent (30-66) from the field and 42 percent (11-26) from three. WNMU made 14-57 (25) from the field and 3-18 (17) from three. They made five free throws to nine for Arizona.

WNMU will open the regular season this coming Friday and Saturday when they will travel to Claremore, Okla., to play in the Conference Challenge against Rogers State and Newman.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Lucy Benning: G; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#25 Lucy Benning
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: G

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

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

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