Defensive flurry enables Pack win over Western New Mexico

SILVER CITY, N.M. - For a few scant minutes, the Pack nearly became the first victim of the winless Western New Mexico Mustangs. But the thing that defines the ThunderWolves women's basketball team more than anything - defense - took over and allowed the Pack to run away, resulting in 77-55 victory Thursday night.

The Pack managed to diffuse the Mustangs' 5-for-8 start, which allowed Western New Mexico to open up an 11-5 lead three minutes into the game, by ratcheting up their transition defense to big dividends.

Over the next three minutes, the Pack forced three steals and two additional turnovers, which allowed the Pack to eventually take a lead at the eight minute mark, and never look back.

From there, it was the Pack's shooting that took over, allowing for a back-breaking 12-3 run that the Mustangs seemed to not have a chance to overcome.

"I'm proud of our kids, not that we won, but the way we won," ThunderWolves' head coach Kip Drown said. "We didn't take them for granted. If you let them get in the game a bit, you can come in her and get beat. But I don't think they ever got a run enough going when they thought they could get back into it."

The ThunderWolves had a strong night shooting the ball, sinking 42 percent of their shots. A big part of that was a 15-point effort from Lindsay Black, who kept her consistent streak, netting 10 or more points for the sixth consecutive game.

"Lindsay is one of those players that every night, she shows up with the same effort," Drown said. "All she does is make plays."

But one of the biggest reason's for the Pack's dominance was the play of center Sarah Staggs, who made sure the Mustangs couldn't get anything going inside, scoring 13 points and leading the team in rebounds with seven.

"All week long, Sarah was bothered by a foot injury," Drown said, "but she really toughed it out and had a very good game for us."

The win improved the Pack to 5-3 in conference play and 11-5 overall.

Notes: The ThunderWolves lost in their last trip to Silver City in a tough 59-56 heartbreaker Feb. 22 ... Mary Rehfeld didn't get the start for the Pack, largely due to a sickness that had hampered her most of the week. She scored six points off the bench.