Silver City, N.M. – Jade Botelho’s 18 points were not enough for the Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team as they came up short against Tarleton State University, 62-42, last Thursday night.
WNMU could not find a rhythm offensively as they shot 26 percent from the field and six percent from the three point line. TSU outmatched these numbers as they shot 45 percent from the floor and 20 percent from beyond the arc. From the charity line, the Mustangs hit a 78 percent while TexAnns shot a 61 percent.
For Western, Botelho shot 47 percent from field goal range while Jordan Gutierrez came away with 14 points. Megan Looney led the team in rebounds with seven and Shoniquia Coleman brought in two assists.
In the first quarter, WNMU held the lead until a minute left in the quarter when TSU knocked down two free throws to make the score 10-9.
The Mustangs regained the lead, 13-12, early in the second quarter thanks to a Gutierrez jumper. A couple possessions later, the lead shifted to TexAnns, 15-13, after a successful layup. This sparked TSU as they then went on a 9-2 run to enhance their lead to 24-15. Tarleton held a steady lead throughout the quarter heading into halftime.
WNMU cut the deficit to seven, 36-29, four minutes into the third quarter thanks to a pair of free throws from Looney. TSU respond with a three on the next possession that pushed the lead to double digits, 39-29. From then on it was all Tarleton as they advanced their lead to more than 20 in the fourth quarter.
Now with a 4-5 overall record and 0-3 record in the conference, the Lady Mustangs will return home this Saturday as they square off against Texas A&M-Commerce this Saturday with the game beginning at 2 p.m.
