by by Brian Kortz, WNMU Athletics
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Using a solid defensive effort and a 19-point game from Ashley Mitchell (Fort Defiance, AZ/Navajo Nation), the Western New Mexico University women’s basketball team took a lead midway through the second half and kept it on their way to defeating Division I Northern Arizona University, 58-54, Sunday afternoon in exhibition action.
“I am extremely proud of our effort today, we were able to put together enough plays to come out on top,” Head Coach Rusty Kennedy said. “Winning on the glass and getting great contribution from our bench were huge keys for us. Hopefully this will give us momentum moving forward.”
Having played close against both of their previous games against Division I teams, the Lady Mustangs followed the same script Sunday. WNMU was plus-six (50-44) in rebounding and held an 18-2 edge in bench points.
It was a close first half that left WNMU trailing by just one, 27-26. In the second half, after the teams traded leads throughout, the Lady Mustangs would end up going ahead for good with a jumper by Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani High School) at the 11:11 mark, 45-44.
That would end up being the last lead change, although the Lady Lumberjacks would make several runs at WNMU down the stretch.
RaTanya Newsome (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) added a layup a few minutes later to boost the lead to three and after NAU would get the lead back down to one a pair of times, Desiree Young (North Ogden, UT/Weber High School) converted a layup and Mitchell drilled a jumper with just over three minutes to play for the 53-48 lead.
With the lead still at two, Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley High School) came through with a pair of clutch foul shots with 1:21 to play for the 55-51 advantage.
NAU would get back to within three and then after several chances to try and tie on a few three point attempts, Botelho secured the big defensive rebound with 32 seconds to play. Off the rebound, Botelho found Young for a fastbreak layup to put the game out of reach. For good measure, Mitchell would hit a foul shot late to secure her 19th and final point of the day.
WNMU outscored NAU in the second half behind a 16-14 advantage in points in the paint, 10-0 in bench production, 9-6 second chance and 4-0 fastbreak.
Early on, NAU jumped out to a four-point lead just to watch the Lady Mustangs fight back to take their biggest lead of the night of six at 14-8 on a jumper by Stephanie Moore (Anton, TX/Anton High School).
Young would help keep the lead at six near the midway point of the first half with a jumper. NAU answered with a 9-0 run to take a three-point lead. WNMU would come back to tie at 21 and after it looked like the Lady Lumberjacks were in line to take a decent lead to halftime ahead by six, Stephanie Douthit (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Mountain ) connected on a three and Mitchell a layup leaving NAU ahead by just one at the break.
Each team ended up shooting 34.4 percent making 22-of-64. WNMU held a 6-2 advantage in three-pointers and both teams made eight foul shots.
Mitchell led the way with 19 points, making 7-of-19, including four three-pointers. She also added a pair of rebounds and three assists. Moore posted nine points and five rebounds, while Young had eight points off the bench. Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) collected 11 rebounds to go with five points.
Raven Anderson led NAU and all-scorers with 22 points.
Following three exhibition contests, WNMU will open the 2014-15 regular season on Thursday night at 6 p.m. against the University of the Southwest inside Drag’s Court.
