Women’s Basketball Travels to Face Texas A&M-Commerce and Tarleton State

COMMERCE/STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Following a lengthy home stand, the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team now hits the road to face Texas A&M-Commerce and Tarleton State.

WNMU is 4-15 overall and 0-12 in the Lone Star Conference so far this season. This past week, the Lady Mustangs fought hard after a tough game against UT Permian Basin to give West Texas A&M a battle before falling by 20. Senior Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) led the team against the Falcons with 23 points, while junior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) led the way with 19 against West Texas A&M.

Gutierrez is third in the conference in scoring at 17.2 per game, which ranks her 60^th nationally. She is ninth in the LSC in field goal percentage (34), fourth in free throw percentage (80), ninth in three point field goals per game (1.7), seventh in assists per game (3.5), eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.9), seventh in steals per game (1.8) and leading the conference in minutes per game (37.8). Gutierrez is third nationally in minutes played per game, 37^th in total minutes played (718) and 82^nd in free throws made (78). Botelho is second on the team in scoring at 10.8 per game, while adding 3.8 rebounds and 12 blocks. She is 21^st in the conference in scoring. Sophomore Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction ) continues to lead the team in rebounding at 6.7 per game, while tallying 6.4 points, 15 blocks and 13 steals. She ranks eighth in the conference in rebounding, fourth in offensive rebounds per game (3) and 13^th in blocked shots per game (0.83). Junior Keshaun Clark (Avondale, AZ/Agua Fria) has come on strong over the past few weeks as she adds 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 11 blocks and 10 steals.

The Lady Mustangs as a team average 58.6 points per game and allow 74.7, they make 34.6 percent from the field and allow 44.1 percent. WNMU leads the conference in free throw percentage (75.4), are second in both fewest turnovers (262) and turnovers per game (13.8). They rank third in fewest fouls (315) and personal fouls per game (16.6). The Lady Mustangs are fourth in turnover margin (1.63). Nationally, they are 27^th in fewest turnovers, 33^rd in turnovers per game, 63^rd in fewest fouls and 93^rd in turnover margin.

WNMU opens the week on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. Central Time against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions took the 61-47 meeting earlier this year in Silver City back on Dec. 10. Senior Jayla Brown (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista ) scored 10 points in that game, while Texas A&M-Commerce got a big game from Artaejah Gay who went for 22 points.

The Lions enter the matchup with a 14-6 mark overall and 8-4 record in the conference action, currently sitting in a tie for fourth in the standings. They fell in a close game last time out at Cameron, 96-94, on Saturday. So far at home, they are on a three-game winning streak having bested Arlington Baptist, UT Permian Basin and West Texas A&M. Texas A&M-Commerce has three players in the top-17 scoring-wise in the LSC led by Gay's 13.9 per game, currently seventh-best in the league. Khala Riley adds 12.6 per game, good for 13^th-best and Krystal Pickron at 11.6 per game at 17^th-best. Jenna Price is one of the top rebounders in the conference as she averages 7.8 per game, third-highest in the LSC. The Lions do well from the foul line with fourth players in the top-10 in the conference making at least 75.3 per game, with the top mark of 81 percent belonging to Price. As a team, they average 76.3 per game, third-best in the conference and allow the third-most points in the league at 70.9. They make 38.6 percent (seventh) and are the fourth-best team holding opponents to a 38 percent clip. The Lions led the conference in rebounding (45.6) and offensive rebounds (16.8). The Lions are 7-1 at home this season.

To finish the trip, WNMU will play at Tarleton State on Saturday afternoon starting at 2 p.m. Central Time. The TexAnns claimed the 62-42 meeting back on Dec. 8 in Silver City. Botelho led the way with 18 points, followed by 14 from Gutierrez. Ikpeaku Iwobi led three in double-figures for Tarleton State with 14 points. Mackenzie Hailey had a big game going for 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tarleton State is just 9-9 overall, but are 8-4 in the conference, currently tied with Texas A&M-Commerce for fourth. They split this past week as well, falling to Cameron on Thursday (81-72), before delivering the 69-57 win at Midwestern State. Hailey leads the team averaging 16.4 points per game, fifth-best in the conference. Bailey Wipff is 11^th in the conference at 12.9 per game. Hailey leads the conference in rebounding at 9.2 per game, while Iwobi is sixth at 7.1 per game. As a team, the TexAnns average an eighth-best 65.3 points and allow a fifth-best 64.0 per game. They make 40.1 percent from the field (fifth in the conference) and allow a 41.1 percent, seventh in the conference. They are second in rebounding defense (37.1) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.90).

Live video and stats will be available for both games.

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Players Mentioned

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

#14 Jayla Brown: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#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

#14 Jayla Brown
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

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

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

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