Silver City, N.M.- The Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team could not find an answer to stopping Fort Lewis College’s (FLC) bench points. FLC was able to put up 40 bench points last Saturday night which helped them take the victory over WNMU 73-62.
Starting the first half was the Skyhawks (16-10, 12-9 RMAC) who put up the first points of the board to make the score 2-0. Jade Botelho answered back for the Mustangs as she splashed in a jumper to tie the game 2-2.
With 5:09 left in the quarter, WNMU (9-18, 6-15 RMAC) took their first lead of the game 4-2 when Deandra Williams convert on a jump shot.
A few possession later, Mustangs extended their lead 9-5 thanks to a pair of Williams free throws.
The first quarter ended with the game knotted up 11-11.
Beginning the second quarter, WNMU came out hot when Botelho connected on a pair of free three to retake the lead 13-11. Desiree Smith for the Mustangs extended the lead to 15-11 when she convert on a fast break lay-up.
The Skyhawks did not go away as easily as they went on a 13-2 run to regain the lead 24-17.
With a few seconds left in the half, My’kale French drilled in a three pointer for the Mustangs as they went into halftime with a deficit of 32-28.
Mustangs would climb their way back in the third quarter and regain the lead thanks to a Jordan Gutierrez jumper to make the score 35-34.
With WNMU on top 43-42, FLC ended the quarter strong by going on a 15-2 run.
The Skyhawks finished the third quarter with the lead 57-45.
FLC would not let up as they kept their lead within double digits throughout the fourth quarter and would eventually go on to take the win 73-62.
The Skyhawks finished with a 26-57 clip in field goals (45) and 8-16 (50) clip in three pointers, while the Mustangs shot 23-57 (40) from the field and 1-6 (16) from beyond the arc.
Williams led the way for WNMU in points with 18 while also snagging nine rebounds. Botelho followed next with 15 points and brought in ten rebounds.
The Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team will finish their last game of the regular season next Friday night at home as they take on New Mexico Highlands with the game beginning at 5:30 p.m.
