SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Cameron women's basketball team lost their sixth straight game on Saturday, falling to Western New Mexico 69-56.

Despite a solid start to the game, the Aggies finished the game shooting just 34 percent from the field and 25 percent from three after a second half that saw them go 8-30 from the field and 0-10 from long range. Ava Battese led the way with 16 points for CU, going 5-13 from the field and 4-11 from three-point range, while Jazmin Luster chipped in 12 points on 6-10 from the field.

The first quarter was back and forth before the Mustangs scored five straight to end the period up 17-14. WNMU carried that momentum into the second period and used a plus-60 percent shooting percentage in the frame to take a 40-31 lead at the break.

Cameron shot well in the first half, going 10-23 from the field, 5-10 from three, and 6-8 from the foul line. The Mustangs rebounded from a 31.3 percent shooting first quarter to go 62.5 percent from the field in the second frame, going 3-4 from the perimeter. They outscored CU in the paint 18-10, despite being out-rebounded by the Black and gold 15-11 in the first frame.

Battese led the Black and Gold with 12 points on 4-5 shooting from three while Ciara Fields had 15 points for the Mustangs.

After Western New Mexico jumped up by 12 to start the second half, the Aggies mounted a comeback midway through the frame, as they went on an 8-1 run to cut the deficit down to five at the 1:22 mark. The Mustangs responded with three straight and led 49-41 heading into the final period.

Cameron battled in the fourth quarter, but each time the made a run, WNMU would answer. CU got to within three at the 3:04 mark thanks to a Luster jump shot, but the Mustangs responded with 10 straight points to end the game and secure the win.

Fields finished with a game-high 22 points, while Destiney Johnson chipped in 18 points for WNMU and Sara Lopez added 12. As a team, the Mustangs shot 43.4 percent from the floor, 5-16 from three, and 18-28 from the free throw line.  

Cameron is now 7-17 overall this season and 4-12 in Lone Star Conference play, while WNMU improves to 9-14 overall and 5-11 against league opponents.

The Aggies will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 19 as they visit Red River rival MSU Texas for a matchup beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Wichita Falls, Texas.