LAWTON, Okla. – The fiery Aggie women's basketball team was not able to complete a second half comeback on Thursday night against Western New Mexico, falling 67-64.
The first quarter saw the two teams foul a combined 11 times with six turnovers by both squads. Cameron held a four-point lead at the end of one, as
Jazmin Luster led the Aggies in scoring in the first frame, pouring in eight points.
In the second quarter, the Aggies got a huge spark off the bench from
Andrea Martinez. The sophomore guard from Wylie, Tex. turned in six points by drilling a pair of threes in the second frame. Martinez also drew a huge charge call, which shifted the momentum back to the Aggies creating a stop-gap on a Mustang scoring run.
Cameron went into the break down 32-25, and despite their 13 first-half turnovers and 15 personal fouls, the Aggies were still in position to win the basketball game, and get back on track in the Lone Star Conference.
In the third quarter, the Aggies pulled within a pair of the Mustangs with four minutes left. The Mustangs went on a 12-5 run to end the third quarter and swell their lead back up to nine. In that third period, the Aggies turned the ball over five times but created eight. Cameron also got to the line six times in the period.
After a pair of technical fouls by WNMU and free throw shooting on both sides ended, the Aggies had eight minutes left to close in on the eight-point deficit ahead of them. Two offensive possession ended in charge calls against the Mustangs, and
Natalie Halbleib was able to put pressure on a Mustang ball handler to get a five-second call resulting in Western New Mexico's third straight turnover and prompting a Mustang timeout.
Despite getting to within two with two seconds left, Cameron committed a foul to send the Mustangs to the line, where they were only able to split the free throws, putting them up by three.
Ava Battese tried a desperation heave at the buzzer but it fell short.
Halbleib was tonight's leading points getter for the Aggies, posting a 17 point effort, with ten rebounds and a pair of assists. She put up 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, keeping CU in the game late.
The Aggies dropped their second straight contest and fall to 4-9 overall and 1-4 in Lone Star Conference play. Up next, Cameron will welcome in UT Permian-Basin on Saturday, Jan. 12 with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
