ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Despite outscoring the Lobos in the second and third quarters, the Western Michigan women's basketball team dropped its season opener at New Mexico, 88-76, on Friday evening. The loss gives sixth-year head coach Shane Clipfell his first loss in a season opener.
 
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"I thought our team grew up a lot after tonight," commented Clipfell. "We buried ourselves in the first quarter but then played them toe-to-toe. We are still looking for the right rotations that will benefit us the most going forward but I liked our ability to cut the deficits. We had some good chances to do so but we just couldn't get over the hump. The competition on the road like tonight will help pay big dividends down the stretch."

Three Broncos scored in double digits led by junior Deja Wimby's 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Wimby was a force driving to the hoop as she tied her career-high nine free throws. Junior Breanna Mobley started where she left off last season, nearly missing a double-double off 19 points and nine rebounds. In her debut in a Brown & Gold uniform, freshman Jordan Walker notched 11 points and dished out two assists.
 
The redshirts made an appearance this evening as redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker recorded a game-high three steals, adding nine points and four rebounds while redshirt senior Marley Hill notched six points and six rebounds. Freshmen Kia Brooks and Leighah-Amori Wool scored their first points as Broncos tonight as well.
 
Early turnovers forced Western Michigan to fight from behind the entire game, as the Broncos committed six of their nine in the first quarter. Jasmyn Walker started a perfect 3-for-3 from the field scoring seven of WMU's first eight points but five straight turnovers from the Broncos led to 11 points for the Lobos and a 25-12 lead at the end of the quarter.
 
Jordan Walker got things going in the second quarter as the Broncos went on a 9-3 run but New Mexico responded with a run of its own. Wimby would knock down four free throws just before the half, as WMU went into the locker room down 45-36.
 
The Broncos were able to cut the deficit to five in the third outscoring the Lobos, 24-20, led by Mobley's 12 points. WMU pulled within two numerous times in the fourth until UNM created a 12-2 run to seal the victory.
 
As a team, WMU shot 39.1 percent from the field while playing stiff defense, forcing the Lobos to commit 13 turnovers. WMU was also solid from the free throw line going 21-for-26. Despite their six turnovers in the first quarter, the Broncos turned the ball over just three more times during the remainder of the game.
 
WMU looks to bounce back with a quick turnaround, traveling to New Mexico State on Sunday, Nov. 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (EST).