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Jaz WNMU
Mike Mazzo

Women's Basketball

Cameron opens final road trip at Mustangs and Greyhounds

Opponents:
Western New Mexico (1-23, 1-15 LSC) | February 15, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in Silver City, N.M. | Live Stats | Live Video
Eastern New Mexico (14-9, 10-6 LSC) | February 17, 2018 at 3 p.m. in Portales, N.M. | Live Stats | Live Video

Game Notes

Starting 5: 
1. Jamie Bonnarens is averaging 21 points in CU's last five games, and continues to the lead the Lone Star Conference with 18 points per game this season. 
2. Lejha Smith has averaged 11.8 rebounds in the Aggies last five contests, and has now pulled down 10 or more rebounds in 15 of CU's 24 games.
3. Western New Mexico registered their first win of the season on Feb. 6 against Eastern New Mexico, 60-59; Ciara Fields scored 16 points while shooting 3-6 from the perimeter. 
4. Eastern New Mexico ranks in the top-20 in Division II in blocks (119) and blocks per game (5.0). 
5. The Aggies, who are ranked seventh in the Lone Star Conference  standings, play three of their next four contests against teams ranked fifth, sixth, and eighth in the league standings. 

About the Aggies: 
For the sixth straight week, the Aggie women have split their two contests, and are now 10-14 on the season and 8-8 in LSC play. Cameron is second in the conference in assists and rebounds per game while averaging 68 points per game. They are also first in the LSC in three point field goals attempted and made. Jamie Bonnarens leads the team and the league in scoring, while ranking in the top-10 in the LSC in rebounding and assists. Ava Battese is averaging 11.8 points per game and is 10th in the nation in three pointers made and third in DII in three pointers attempted. Also averaging in double-figures is Parfitt McNair, who is also fourth in the league in assists per game, while Lejha Smith leads the conference and is 13th in the nation in rebounds per contest. 

Scouting the Mustangs: 
The Mustangs broke into the win column with a 60-59 win over Eastern New Mexico on Feb. 6 but then fell to Texas Woman's 67-43 on Feb. 10 their last time out. Against the Pioneers, WNMU shot under 33 percent from the field and went 5-23 from three point range. They went to the free throw line just three times during the game and turned the ball over 19 times. Jade Botelho had a team-high 12 points in the loss. On the season, the Mustangs are scoring 54 points per game while giving up 71.4 points to their opponents. They are second in the LSC in free throw shooting, knocking down 74.9 percent of their shots from the charity stripe. Ciara Fields leads the team with 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per outing and 30 total steals. 

Last time vs. WNMU: 
The Aggies took down the Mustangs at home earlier this season, 90-58. Cameron outscored ENMU 50-18 in the second and third quarters while shooting 47.8 percent in the game to secure the dominant win. Andrea Martinez scored 16 points for CU, shooting 5-10 from three, while Amaka Nwakamma had 14 points and Jamie Bonnarens had 13 points. Melody McLaughlin scored 14 points for the Mustangs as Jade Botelho scored 11 points and Myla Woods-Brown had a game-high 10 rebounds. 

The series:
- The Aggies lead the series 3-1. 
- Cameron has won three straight against the Mustangs.
- Last Meeting: January 13, 2018 in Lawton, Okla. (90-58 CU win).

Scouting the Greyhounds: 
Eastern New Mexico enters the contest with Cameron winners of five out of their last six games. They took down Texas Woman's, 64-58, in their last outing behind 12 points from former Aggie Brandi Gomez and 10 points and 11 rebounds from Shelby Jones. The Greyhounds are first in the LSC in three point defense and blocked shots (119). Mikaehla Connor is the lone ENMU player averaging over 10 points per game (10.6), while Daeshi McCants averages 9.0 points and a team best 7.2 rebounds per game and Gomez averages 7.0 points while hitting a team best 36 three pointers. 

Last time vs. ENMU: 
Cameron struggled to get going offensively last time out against the Greyhounds, shooting just 26 percent from the floor and hitting 4-24 from the perimeter in a 57-53 loss. Jamie Bonnarens led all scorers with 17 points as Lejha Smith had a 13 point, 11 rebound double-double with five blocks. Mikaehla Connor led ENMU with 16 points and Daeshi McCants recorded a 12 point, 12 rebound double-double. 

The series:
- The Greyhounds lead 23-14 in the overall series. 
- Cameron has won just four games in the all time series on the road.
- Last Meeting: January 11, 2018 in Lawton, Okla. (57-53 ENMU win).

Looking back:
Cameron split their Lone Star Conference battles last week, falling to No. 25 West Texas A&M, 70-61 and beating UT Permian Basin, 66-54. CU was down just one point at the half against the Lady Buffs, but they were outscored 21-10 in the third quarter, leading to the loss; the Black and Gold made just seven of their 14 free throw attempts. Jamie Bonnarens had a game-high 20 points for CU, as Battese had 12 points, and Lejha Smith had nine points and 13 rebounds. Against the Falcons, the Aggies led by 16 points at halftime, shot just 24 percent in the second half, allowing UTPB to make a small comeback. However, CU made all but one of their free throws in the second 20 minutes of play to secure the win. Parfitt McNair scored 21 points for CU, making 8-8 from the free throw line, while Bonnarens had 14 points, Battese had 14, and Smith had 14 rebounds. 

Looking ahead:
The Aggies will close out the regular season with a trip to their Red River rival, Midwestern State on Tuesday, Feb. 20 starting at 5:30 p.m. and then to Texas Woman's on Thursday, Feb. 22.
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Players Mentioned

Ava Battese

#30 Ava Battese

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Jamie Bonnarens

#12 Jamie Bonnarens

G/F
6' 0"
Sophomore
Parfitt McNair

#15 Parfitt McNair

G
5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
Amaka Nwakamma

#1 Amaka Nwakamma

G
5' 7"
Junior
Andrea Martinez

#20 Andrea Martinez

G
5' 6"
Freshman
Lejha Smith

#25 Lejha Smith

F
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Ava Battese

#30 Ava Battese

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Jamie Bonnarens

#12 Jamie Bonnarens

6' 0"
Sophomore
G/F
Parfitt McNair

#15 Parfitt McNair

5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
G
Amaka Nwakamma

#1 Amaka Nwakamma

5' 7"
Junior
G
Andrea Martinez

#20 Andrea Martinez

5' 6"
Freshman
G
Lejha Smith

#25 Lejha Smith

6' 1"
Junior
F