HOBBS, N.M. – Junior Catarina Garcia scored a game-high 31 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the floor and University of the Southwest women's basketball fought past Wiley 82-70 Thursday evening in Red River Athletic Conference at the Maddox Student Life Center.
 
Tied at 64-64 with 5:52 remaining in the second half, USW (2-12, 1-6 RRAC) finished the game with a 18-6 run. In the final 90 seconds Garcia went 6-for-6 at the free throw line. The Lorenzo, Texas product also finished the game 10-for-10 at the charity stripe.
 
Sophomore Mykal Thomas added 13 points and grabbed five rebounds, while junior Desiree Garza helped out with 12 points and hauled in seven boards.
 
Aaliyah Wheatfall scored 11 points and handed out a game-high six assists.
 
In the second half USW shot 57 percent (11-for-19), while Wiley connected on 31 percent (10-for-32) of its shots from the field. For the game the Wildcats (6-6, 3-3 RRAC) shot 39 percent (23-for-58) while the Mustangs fared much better and hit 48 percent (25-for-52) of their shots from the floor.
 
USW returns to the court Saturday and plays host to Jarvis Christian at 5:30 p.m. at the Maddox Student Life Center.