LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands University men's and women's basketball teams close out their home slate in 2013 when they host the Western State Mountaineers Friday (Dec. 13) and the Colorado Mesa Mavericks Saturday (Dec. 14). Each women's game tips at 6 p.m., with the men's game scheduled to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's contests.
Tickets for the doubleheader at the John Wilson Complex are $8 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens. All students and faculty of New Mexico Highlands get in free. If you are unable to attend, there are multiple ways you can follow all the weekend's action. Every basketball game will be broadcast live by clicking
here. For live statistics for each of the women's games, click
here. For live statistics for the men's games, click
here.
Men's Basketball
New Mexico Highlands (4-2, 1-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) returns to action after splitting on the road to open up conference play last weekend. In the Cowboys 102-100, 2OT win at Colorado Christian on Friday night (Dec. 6), senior
Mannie Cass scored a career-best 35 points. It was also the most points in an RMAC game this season.
Tied at 97 in the second overtime, Cass drained a three while being fouled. He made the ensuing free throw with 1:42 left and the Cowboys held on for the win. Cass had a lot of helps as seniors
Lavell McDade (23) and
Stuart Sullivan (17) came off the bench to also reach double-digits. Senior
Stargell Love added 10 points. To read more about the Cowboys thrilling win over Colorado Christian, click
here.
Junior
Luis Rodriguez Quintana came off the bench against Colorado School of the Mines on Saturday (Dec. 7) for a career-best 13 points in Highlands 111-63 loss. In fact, his 13 points was two more than he had scored in six previous games combined (11 points) with the Cowboys. To read more, click
here.
Scouting Western State
Western State (0-5, 0-2 RMAC), along with Western New Mexico, is one of two teams in the conference who have not won a game in the 2013-2014. Of the 305 teams who play NCAA Division II basketball, the Mountaineers rank 285th with a scoring margin of negative 19 points. Individually, Mason Biddle is eighth in the conference and 91st in the nation with 17.2 points per game.
In its last game, Western State fell at Air Force, 94-53 on Monday, Dec. 9. Dominique Wright led the Mountaineers with 11 points while Mason Biddle only scored seven points. It was the first time all season Biddle failed to reach double-digit points.
Scouting Colorado Mesa
Colorado Mesa (3-3, 1-1 RMAC) takes on the Cowboys in what could be a critical early-conference showdown on Saturday (Dec. 14). Highland's defense will be tested as the Mavericks are second in the RMAC and 23rd in the nation with a 50.8 field goal percentage. In contrast, the Cowboys are 10th in the conference by allowing teams to shoot 47.5 percent. In turnovers, Highlands is eighth in the conference with just under one less miscue per game than its opponents. The Mavericks average more than four more turnovers per game than its opponents.
Individually, Joe Kiely leads the conference and is 15th in the nation with a 4.17 assist-turnover ratio.
Riding a three-game winning streak coming into its last game, Colorado Mesa allowed a 22-8 run in the first half to go from five up to nine down against Chadron State. In the 74-66 loss, Ryan Stephen led the Mavericks with 16 points. Joe Kiely added a solid game with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Women's Basketball
New Mexico Highlands University (4-1, 1-1 RMAC) is coming off a whacky weekend where the Cowgirls, Colorado Christian, Colorado School of the Mines and Western New Mexico all split against each other. Highlands beat Colorado Mines 65-59 on Saturday (Dec. 7), who beat Western New Mexico, who beat Colorado Christian,
who beat the Cowgirls 95-65 on Friday (Dec. 6).
As head coach
Tiffany Darling has mentioned all season, the Cowgirls are trying to continue their winning ways thanks to defense. While Highlands is only 137th in the country by scoring 71.2 points, they counter with allowing only 60.2 points per game (46th in the nation). They are also second in the conference and 11th in the country in rebounding margin (+11.6 boards per game).
Senior
China Smith continues to lead the conference and is third in the nation with 12.8 rebounds per game. Combined with 13.4 points per game (15th in the RMAC), she is one of three players in the conference averaging a double-double for the season.
Michelle Traynham is making her presence known in her sophomore campaign as she is 83rd in the nation with 2.4 three-pointers per game. She also is 102nd in the nation with 2.4 thefts per game.
Traynham also leads the team with 15.0 points per game.
In the Cowgirls 65-59 win at Colorado School of the Mines, senior
Alyssa Lopez hit two triples at critical times. In the first half, Highlands trailed 30-23 when Lopez hit a three to immediately cut the deficit to four. In the second half with the Cowgirls clinging to a 56-54 lead, Lopez hit a three off on an offensive rebound to help seal the win over the Orediggers. To read more about its win over Colorado Mines, click
here.
Scouting Western State
Western State may only be 2-5 overall on the season, it began the season with an RMAC sweep with two victories in very different fashion. On Friday (Dec. 6), the Mountaineers squeaked past Black Hills State 48-47. On Saturday (Dec. 7), Western State ran past Chadron State 79-77.
While Western State does not score that much (56.4 points per game, 274th in the nation) and has a negative 16.1 scoring margin (272nd in the nation), the Cowgirls would be wise to keep Mountaineers off the free throw line. Western State is second in the RMAC and 38th in the nation with a 76.4 percent mark from the charity stripe.
Jade McIntosh leads the Mountaineers and is 185th in the nation and 12th in the RMAC with 15.1 points per game.
Scouting Colorado Mesa
#5 Colorado Mesa (6-0, 2-0 RMAC) comes in to Saturday night's game as one of 17 teams in the NCAA Division II who are undefeated. CMU won both its contests to begin RMAC play by more than 25 points, knocking off Chadron State 86-41 on Friday (Dec. 6) before knocking off Black Hills State 81-52 on Saturday (Dec. 7).
While the Mavericks boast the 44th-most potent offense (79.8 points per game), they also have a stifling defense that is second in the nation by only allowing 50.3 points per game. Individually, Sharaya Selsor leads the conference and is second in the nation with 25.7 points. Aubry Boehme also leads the RMAC and is third in the nation in field goal percentage, hitting 71.7.
Finally, the Mavericks are assisting on 66.7 percent of their baskets (122 assists on 183 field goals made). Christen Lopez leads the conference and is 10th in the nation with six assists per game. Selsor is not only a scorer as she is second in the conference and 21st in the country with 5.5 assists per game.
