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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Ciara Fields
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
67
Winner Cameron CU 11-14, 9-8 LSC
55
Western N.M. WNMU 1-24, 1-16 LSC
Winner
Cameron CU
11-14, 9-8 LSC
67
Final
55
Western N.M. WNMU
1-24, 1-16 LSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Cameron CU 19 18 15 15 67
Western N.M. WNMU 21 9 13 12 55

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Fields, Lopez and Botelho Combine for 49 Points Against Cameron

SILVER CITY, N.M. – The trio of senior Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani) and juniors Ciara Fields (El Paso, TX/El Dorado) and Takiyah Lopez (El Paso, TX/Chapin) was nearly enough to lift the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team past Cameron University on Thursday. Despite the 49-point effort between the threesome, the Lady Mustangs fell just short as the Aggies claimed the 67-55 Lone Star Conference victory.

Fields led the way with 20 points, making 7-17 from the field, along with five rebounds, a block and two steals. Botelho added 17 points on 7-12 shooting, to go along with two rebounds, an assist and three steals. Lopez tallied 12 points on 4-10 shooting, while grabbing five rebounds, dishing out two assists and two blocks.

Cameron (11-14, 9-8 LSC) opened the game on a 6-0 run through the first two minutes. Botelho snapped the spurt with a layup at the 7:41 mark. Botelho struck again a minute later when she hit a layup and then added two from the line to tie the game at nine four minutes in.

The Aggies used an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to move out to a 17-9 lead. WNMU (1-24, 1-16 LSC) kept fighting back, as trailing by five with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter, Fields hit two from the line and then after hitting a jumper, Lopez closed the run with a three to give WNMU a 21-19 lead through the first 10 minutes.

Lopez kept WNMU in front two minutes into the second quarter when she sank a three-pointer. Right after regaining the lead, Cameron reeled off an 11-0 run to move ahead 34-24. Botelho and senior Melody McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View) helped close the first half strong as they combined for the final four points to leave Cameron with a 37-30 halftime lead.

The Aggies went on a methodical 7-0 run near the midway points of the third quarter that took around five minutes and moved the lead out to 50-37. Just like previous quarters, the Lady Mustangs got back to within seven, before a layup by Sydney Ellis capped the scoring in the third and left Cameron with a 52-43 lead.

A pair of early free throws by Fields nearly two minutes into the final frame cut the deficit under 10, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way, with the Aggies taking the win.

Three scored in double-figures for Cameron with Jamie Bonnarens leading the way with 15 points and five rebounds. Ava Battese and Amaka Nwakamma each added 10 points apiece. Lejha Smith was approaching a double-double with nine points and seven rebounds. The Aggies made 27-55 (49) from the field, 3-12 (25) from three and 8-18 (44) from the foul line.

WNMU countered making 20-54 (37) from the field, 4-16 (25) from three and 11-14 (79) at the foul line. Cameron held the edge on points off turnovers (16-10), second-chance points (10-4), bench points (17-2), points in the paint (40-28) and fastbreak points (14-2).

The Lady Mustangs will now prepare for Senior Day this Saturday against Midwestern State starting at 2 p.m. Seniors Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani), Melody McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View), Myla Woods-Brown (Roswell, NM/Roswell) and Lucy Benning (El Paso, TX/El Paso) will be honored after the game.
 
 
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