Silver City, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team were able to hold on late and take the victory against Northern New Mexico College, 68-66, last Monday evening.
The Eagles held their own offensively by outgaining the Mustangs in every shooting category; field goals (38 percent to 34 percent), three-pointers (52-35) and free throws (76-58). WNMU held the advantage in points in the paint 30 to 16 and in second chance points 28 to 12.
Individually for the Lady Mustangs, Jeylynn Fields carried the team in points with 26, followed by Jordan Gutierrez with 17. Gutierrez also earned five assists while Megan Looney led the team with 11 rebounds.
In the beginning minutes of the first quarter, neither teams were able to gain a decent lead. With five minutes left in the quarter, WNMU took a five point lead, 12-7, when Shoniquia Coleman nailed a jumper.
NNMC took the lead, 20-18, two minutes into the second quarter after hitting a three-pointer. This lead diminished later in the quarter thanks to Gutierrez’s three which gave the Mustangs the lead 26-24. Gutierrez hit a jumper to push the lead to three, 28-25, with four minutes remaining in the quarter. Both team exchanged leads before the half ended but the Eagles came away with the lead 36-35.
Two minutes into the third quarter, a Fields’ layup for WNMU regained the lead, 40-38. With the game then tied at 43 apiece, NNMC drilled a three from beyond the arc to give them the lead, 46-43. From then on, the Eagles held the lead until Fields hit a free thrown before the quarter ended, giving the Mustangs the lead, 51-50.
In the fourth quarter, Field hit a three to enhance the Mustang lead to seven, 57-50. NNMC responded well as they went on an 8-0 run to put themselves in the lead, 58-57. Mustang’s Gutierrez ended the drought with a three-pointer, to reposition themselves with the lead 60-58. With 2:49 left remaining, the Eagle converted on a three to tie the game at 64. Fields for WNMU drove in the paint for a successful layup and the lead 66-64, but the lead vanished when the NNMC knocked down two free throws the tie the game back up, 66-66. Fields again found a lane in the paint at took the ball in for a layup with 35 seconds remaining, giving the Mustangs the lead, 68-66. WNMU kept their defense together and did not let up any more points as they went on for the win, 68-66.
The Lady Mustangs currently hold a 3-1 overall record and will travel to Colorado for their next challenge as they face Western State Colorado University this Friday with the game beginning at 1 p.m.
