GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Continuing to set history this season, the Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team will write another chapter this Tuesday when they play Colorado Mesa University in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
Reaching the most wins and making it into a conference tournament since the mid 90’s, WNMU will face the Lady Mavericks for the third time this season. The last meeting occurred in Silver City just a few weeks ago on Feb. 14 with CMU claiming a 64-51 victory. In that game Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) and RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) posted double-figures in scoring with Mitchell collecting 21 to 13 for Newsome. Laurel Kasel (17) and Leanndra Gilbert (16) led the way for the Lady Mavericks. CMU made 23-53 (43.4) from the field, including six three-pointers. They limited WNMU to a 14-54 (25.9) shooting night with five three-pointers. WNMU did well at the foul line connecting on 18-22 (81.8).
In the first meeting in Grand Junction back on Dec. 12, WNMU held a 37-34 halftime lead before CMU came back late in the second half for a 76-66 victory. Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) came off the bench to lead the way with 14 points. Mitchell (13) and Newsome (10) also reached double-figures. Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School) added nine points. Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) only played in 20 minutes in the first meeting and missed the second game due to injury. WNMU forced 29 CMU turnovers the turned into 24 points off turnovers. WNMU made 22-57 (38.6) with five three-pointers. CMU made 23-48 (47.9) also with five three-pointers and tallied a strong advantage at the foul line making 25-29 (86.2), while WNMU went 17-26 (65.4). Erin Reichle led the Lady Mavericks with 22 points. Gilbert added 17 and Erika Musante with 16.
CMU carries a 51 game winning streak at Brownson Arena into the game and have won seven straight overall in claiming their third straight RMAC regular season title. Currently 22-4 overall and finished the regular season with a 19-3 conference record, including a 13-0 mark at home.
Reichle powers CMU averaging 18.2 points per game. She also leads the team in steals (37), assists (97) and three-pointers (75). Gilbert tallies 11 points per contest and hauls in a team-high 7.9 rebounds. Shanna Halalilo chips in another 9.9 per game. CMU averages 66.7 per game and allows 57.5. They make 39.4 percent from the field, while opponents connect on 35.4 percent.
WNMU enters at 14-12 overall and finished the conference regular season with an 11-11 mark. They went 5-7 on the road, 4-7 in conference games. Mitchell continues to lead the offense with 13 points per game. She also leads in three-pointers (41). Moore (9.6), Newsome (9.3) and Botelho (8.0) are next in scoring. Newsome leads in assists (145) and steals (61). Moore’s 51.3 shooting percentage is among the best in the RMAC. Hernandez averages 7.5 points and leads the team in rebounds (7.1) and blocks (12). WNMU averages 62.4 points per game and allows 59.3. They make 38.3 percent from the field, while opponents make 37.9 percent.
Other RMAC first round matchups include #2 UC-Colorado Springs hosting #7 Regis, #3 Colorado Christian hosting #6 Fort Lewis and #4 Colorado State University-Pueblo hosting #5 Black Hills State.
