Lady Mustangs Post Season-High in Points in Setback Against Benedictine-Mesa

Box Score PHOENIX, Ariz. – Despite scoring a season-high 63 points on Saturday, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team wasn't able to stop Emily Moore and the Benedictine-Mesa Redhawks as they piled up 90 points in taking the 90-63 victory in non-conference action.

Emily Moore helped power a prolific Benedictine-Mesa (6-5) attack as she scored 31 points on 12-16 shooting, while the Redhawks went 35-68 (52) from the field and 5-10 (50) from three-point range. They also added a 15-22 (68) effort at the foul line.

The 63 points breaks the old mark of 61 set at Tarleton State a few weeks ago for the Lady Mustangs (0-11). Junior Ciara Fields (El Paso, TX/El Dorado) again led the way with 14 points. Senior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani) came off the bench to add nine points and a pair of steals. Other top bench contributors included redshirt senior Myla Woods-Brown (Roswell, NM/Roswell) and junior Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction) as they each chipped in seven points. Woods-Brown pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and also added both a steal and an assist. It was a tough shooting game for WNMU as they made 20-58 (35) from the field, 1-15 (7) from three, but did a solid job at the foul line connecting on 22-29 (76), with Fields leading the way with an 8-9 clip.

The Redhawks outscored the Lady Mustangs in all four quarters as they quickly moved out to a 7-1 lead nearly three minutes in. Fields then got things going for WNMU as she scored the first five points for the Lady Mustangs and then freshman Rachel Francisco (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) hit on a jumper at the 6:14 mark to even the game at seven.

After trailing by five at 12-7, the Lady Mustangs again went on another run with Botelho hitting a jumper, freshman Cassandra Vickery (Tularosa, NM/Tularosa) tallied a layup and junior Ashton Carrasco (El Paso, TX/Canutillo) capped the run hitting a foul shot with 3:32 to go in the first quarter to again help WNMU draw even at 12.

Fields helped WNMU draw even for the third time in the quarter a minute later when she converted a layup for a 14-all tie before Benedictine-Mesa closed the quarter on an 11-4 run to open up a 25-18 lead.

Junior Takiyah Lopez (El Paso, TX/Chapin) started the second quarter strong hitting on three of four foul shots to bring the Lady Mustangs back to within four at 25-21. The Redhawks then went on a massive 14-0 run to move their advantage into double-digits at 39-21 with 5:22 to go before halftime.

A layup by senior Melody McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View) got WNMU as close as they would get the rest of the half at 41-27 before the Redhawks outscored WNMU by two the rest of the way for a 45-29 lead at the break.

Benedictine-Mesa didn't let up in the second half as they put up their most points in any quarter in the third with 27 to open up a 72-46 lead heading into the final quarter.

WNMU came close to winning the final 10 minutes as the Redhawks held just a small 18-17 edge to take the victory.

The Redhawks held a big advantage on points off turnovers (34-15), while second-chance points (19-14) and bench points (31-29) were close.

The Lady Mustangs will remain out in the Phoenix area as they will play in Prescott on Tuesday night at 5 p.m. against Embry Riddle.

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Players Mentioned

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

#42 Myla Woods-Brown: G/F; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

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

#15 Rachel Francisco: G; 5' 3"; Freshman

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#42 Myla Woods-Brown
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: G/F

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

#15 Rachel Francisco
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: G

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

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

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