LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Western New Mexico (0-1) lost to N.M. Highlands (1-2) 92-64 on Monday. Western New Mexico was out rebounded 42-29. 
 
Western New Mexico struggled to generate offense in the first quarter, making three field goals while N.M. Highlands built a 30-11 lead. Emori LaSalle (Crosby, TX/Crosby High School) and Tess Taylor (Huffman, TX/Hargrave High School) connected from 3-point range in the middle of the quarter, and Elena Hairston (Savannah, GA/South Effingham High School) added a second-chance layup, but Western New Mexico finished 3-for-10 from the field with three turnovers.
 
The Mustangs outscored N.M. Highlands 18-16 in the second quarter, but still went into halftime trailing 46-29. Jordan Sapien (El Paso, TX/Pebble Hills High School) scored five early points in the quarter, and Jernye McZeal (Port Arthur, TX/Memorial High School) added a 3-pointer and a block as Western New Mexico finished the half with three steals and three assists in the quarter.
 
The third quarter brought 35 points for Western New Mexico, but N.M. Highlands outpaced it with 46 in the frame. 
 
Western New Mexico faced a significant gap in made field goals, with N.M. Highlands going 33-for-65 from the floor while Western New Mexico finished 21-for-54. N.M. Highlands also held a 42-29 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive boards, and produced 22 second-chance points. Western New Mexico matched N.M. Highlands with 29 free-throw attempts and made 4 of 6 from 3-point range, but committed 24 turnovers against 13 N.M. Highlands steals.
 
LaSalle shared Western New Mexico's scoring lead with 15 points and collected seven rebounds. Sapien also scored 15 points and recorded four assists. Teeya Gordon (Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo High School) added 11 points and five rebounds. McZeal tallied five points, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
 
Maya Barnes scored 18 points, made four 3-pointers and collected nine rebounds. Aniya Johnson finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and six made free throws. Kamalani Anitielu added 12 points, three steals, three assists and four offensive rebounds. Brynn Hargrove recorded four steals and scored six points.
 
Western New Mexico is 0-1 overall. N.M. Highlands is 1-2 overall.
 
Up next, the Western New Mexico basketball team hosts Metropolitan State University of Denver on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 5 PM MT in Silver City, N.M.