Box Score Fort Smith, AR– The Western New Mexico University Mustangs geared up to play against the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions at Stubblefield Center, Thursday evening. In a very close match, the Lions would come out on top with a victory. 
 
The first quarter boded well for the Mustangs behind the arc shooting an average percentage of 667% out of 3 attempts. Senior Kaela Chavez (Las Cruces, NM/Centennial HS) made two back-to-back three-pointers during fast breaks giving the Mustangs the lead over the lions. By the end of the quarter, Lions were up 13-12 in a close game. 

The second quarter was a bit of a struggle for the Mustang offense as the team could not get things rolling. A total of 9 points were scored by the team with 25 total attempts including 0 free throw attempts. By half time, the score was WNMU with 21 and UFAS leading with 28. 

The third quarter was well underway as veteran Kaela Chaves and junior Abigail Walter (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan Catholic HS) came out splashing two three-pointers to give Mustangs the lead over the Lions (31pts-30pts). Unfortunate missed lay-ups and jumpers would be costly to WNMU and the Lions took the lead once more. The final score of the quarter gave UAFS the lead (38pts) and WNMU trailed by four (34pts).
 
In the final quarter, both teams battled head-to-head. The Mustangs were led by senior Destiney Johnson (El Paso, TX/Parkland HS) and junior Zyan Smith (Queen Creek, AZ/Mesquite High School ) with an impeccable offensive duo giving the team a 10-point lead with 7:46 left on the clock. The Lions would go on a 6 point run in the crucial final minutes of the game with Lions veterans Ashanti Eden (20pts) and Paige Elston (17pts), would end the night defeating the Mustangs 64-55. 

The Mustangs had a 39.6% from the field goal range as a team with 31.3% of the three-point attempts making it into the basket. Fouls were a huge issue for the team totaling 22 for the night. 
Mustangs Highlights:

Zyan Smith (Queen Creek, AZ/Mesquite High School ) – (15 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 1 blck, 3 stl)
Kaela Chavez (Las Cruces, NM/Centennial HS) – (9 pts, 2 reb, 2 stl)
Destiney Johnson (El Paso, TX/Parkland HS) – (8 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast) 

WNMU will be back home for a match up against Texas A&M University Commerce and University of Texas at Tyler Thursday January 20^th (5:30pm) and Saturday January 22^nd (2:00pm).