LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Colorado Christian University shot nearly 58 percent and tallied 17 steals to defeat the Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team, 81-49, Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
CCU (13-13, 13-7 RMAC) shot 57.6 percent (34-59) and recorded 17 steals with Christina Whitelaw posting 10 alone to hold a 29-7 points off turnovers advantage.
RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) gave WNMU (13-11, 10-10 RMAC) the early lead 29 seconds in with a three-pointer.
The Cougars answered back with a 15-0 run and never looked back. Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Window Rock High School) would connect on back-to-back threes to bring the Lady Mustangs back to within six at the 13:46 mark.
After CCU had the lead back into double-digits, a Taylor McCauley (Cliff, NM/Cliff High School) jumper near the midway point of the half had WNMU back to within nine, but it was too much Cougars as they again answered with a run, this time a 12-0 variety to take a 40-24 lead into halftime.
A Stephanie Douthit (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Mountain ) three and a jumper by Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) had the Lady Mustangs back to within 19 early in the second half, but that would be as close as WNMU would get the rest of the way.
Mitchell led the Lady Mustangs with 11 points. Botelho and Newsome added eight points apiece. Taylor Torres had a game-high 18 points for CCU, while Claire Paxton tallied 16 points. Whitelaw ended up with 10 assists, 10 steals and seven points.
With the loss, WNMU remains a half-game back of MSU Denver for the eighth and final tournament spot. Fort Lewis bested MSU Denver earlier tonight, while Regis also collected their 11th win. Black Hills State defeated CSU-Pueblo for their 12th win. WNMU sits a game-and-a-half back of Regis and Fort Lewis for sixth.
WNMU will play at Colorado Mines on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. The Lady Orediggers defeated New Mexcio Highlands, 88-65, earlier tonight.
