Men's Basketball | 12/10/2014 5:58:00 PM
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This game preview is presented by McDonald's
GUNNISON, Colo. - For the first time this season, Western State Colorado University men's and women's basketball teams will play games in Paul Wright Gym. The Mountaineers will face New Mexico Highlands University in the home opener on Friday night before hosting Western New Mexico University on Saturday. Both women's games begin at 5:30 p.m., with the men's games following at 7:30 p.m.
The Western women (1-5, 0-2 RMAC) will look to win the home opener against NMHU (3-3, 2-0 RMAC) and, in turn win their first conference game of the season.
Friday will be the 71st matchup between the two women's basketball programs. After the Mountaineers fell to the Cowgirls 53-67 last February, the series is tied at 35 wins each. However, Western has won the past 10-of-13 meetings.
Western is coming off a 62-75 loss to Chadron State College during the opening weekend of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
Jade McIntosh (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) leads the Mountaineers' offensive attack, averaging a team high 11.7 points per game.
Highlands' leading scorer is Anngelina Sanchez, who is averaging 15.3 points per game. The Cowgirls are coming off a three-game win streak, defeating Colorado School of Mines in their previous game, 75-68.
On Saturday, WNMU (4-1, 2-0 RMAC) comes into Gunnison. The Lady Mustangs also come into the weekend with a three game win streak. WNMU defeated Colorado Christian University 80-51 last Saturday. Currently sitting second in the RMAC, WNMU will face Colorado Mesa University on Friday.
Western and the Lady Mustangs have each won 21 games in the 42 game series. In the previous meeting between the two schools, WNMU came away with a 50-69 victory.
Ashley Mitchell is WNMU's leading scorer, averaging 11.4 points per game.
Western men's basketball, under Head Coach
Bradd Schafer, will make their 2014-15 home debut against New Mexico Highlands University (0-5, 0-2 RMAC) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. In two meetings last season, the total point separation between the two schools was only tree points. The Cowboys won the last meeting 79-78 in February.
Highlands is still in search of their first win of the season, having lost their first five games. Kendrick Nichols leads NMHU in scoring, averaging 21 points per game.
The Western men enter the weekend having lost 57-73 to Chadron State College during the conference opening weekend. Senior guard
Mason Biddle (Sr., Riverside, California) leads the Mountaineers in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game.
Saturday's matchup against WNMU (0-6, 0-2 RMAC) will be the 90th meeting between the two programs. Western won the previous meeting 80-71, but trails the Mustangs in the overall series 59-30.
The Mustangs are also in search of their first season and conference wins. WNMU will face Colorado Mesa University on Friday before traveling to Gunnison. Marcos Castrillo leads the Mustang scoring attack, averaging 12.3 points per game.
