Lady Warriors Fall in Tight Bout

The Nelson Lady Warriors' Women's Basketball team (0-6) delivered their strongest performance of the young season but came up just short in a gritty 57-52 loss to the University of the Southwest (NM) Mustangs (4-1), battling back from an early deficit in a thriller that may mark a turning point in the season.

The Mustangs bolted out of the starting gate grabbing an early lead, putting Nelson in chase mode from the start. But the Lady Warriors refused to let their opponent race past them, and showing the Warrior spirit fans are accustomed to seeing their Nelson teams, mounting a spirited comeback in the second quarter fueled by Tatiana Ayala's dynamic play. Leading all scorers with 17 points, she attacked the basket relentlessly and stretching Southwest's defense thin, powering Nelson to a five-point advantage and injecting energy into the home crowd.

Southwest, however, stayed glued to the Warriors' heels, reclaiming the lead in the fourth quarter, although maintaining on a razor-thin edge. While the Lady Warriors put on a defensive masterclass, preventing the Mustangs from scoring a field goal over the final 6:37, a Chloe Warren three-pointer, pulled Nelson within two points at 55-53 with 3:41 remaining, the closest they would get. Despite the defensive momentum, Nelson couldn't find the bucket in the closing moments, allowing Southwest to escape with the win via free throws.

Along with Tatiana Ayala's 17 points, she also grabbed 8 crucial rebounds. Natalia Dance led the way on the boards grabbing 9 herself, to go along with 2 points and 3 assists. Chloe Warren finished with 8 points including two 3-pointers, while Juliana Kirker and Aaliyah Clemons each scored 7 points, with Kirker adding 6 caroms and Dance dishing out 3 assists.

The two teams face off against one another again tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, and 12pm.

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