Against a future Lone Star Conference opponent, the Sul Ross State women's basketball team was able to compete and hold its own until the very end on Wednesday afternoon during the home opener at the Pete P. Gallego Center.

The Lobos fought valiantly but came up short against the Western New Mexico University Mustangs, 69-65.

>> HOW IT HAPPENED:

The lead changed 13 times and there were nine score changes in the contest.

During the first quarter, both teams swapped the lead until Victoria Aguayo hit a three-pointer that was followed up by a three by WNMU.

Down by one point, Morgan Peralez put the Lobos ahead 11-10 with a layup, which sparked a 6-0 run to give the Lobos a five-point lead.

A pair of free throws and a three-pointer by WNMU tied up the game at 15-all at the end of the first quarter.

Aguayo began the second quarter by making another shot from beyond the arc.

The Mustangs answered back with a three of their own.

Peralez then made a pair of free throws to give Sul Ross State a 20-18 lead with 7:29 on the clock.

WNMU went off on an 8-0 run to retake the lead.

Sul Ross State trailed by as much as 11 before closing out the second quarter with a 7-0 run highlighted by a three from Cheyanne Bonilla and four points by Peralez.

Trailing at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lobos used a 10-0 run to take a four-point lead with 7:04 on the clock.

Bonilla landed a three while Aguayo made three points on a layup and a free throw.

The lead changed three times in the final minutes of the game.

With 1:28 to go, Marley Rokas made a layup to put the Lobos ahead, 65-64.

Using a 5-0 run, the Mustangs pulled away for the victory.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (0-3); Western New Mexico (3-0)

>> WHAT THE COACH SAID:

"It's kind of tough to beat anybody if our bench does not score. They shot the ball a little better than us. We just don't make layups. I'm just looking for my third guard. We definitely play hard, no doubt in my mind, but we just have to make better decisions. I think we can definitely compete with them without any problems." — Head coach E.J. Lee Smith

>> GAME NOTES:

• Peralez led the Lobos with 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
• Aguayo finished with 18 points and five rebounds.
• Rokas chipped in with 15 points, four assists and seven boards.
• Bonilla added with 10 points, four assists, two steals and six rebounds.
• The Lobos finished with 41 rebounds compared to the 34 brought in by WNMU.
• Sul Ross State shot 12 for 14 from the free throw line. Peralez went a perfect 8 for 8.
• Sul Ross State had 36 points in the paint while it made five 3-pointers. Aguayo had three 3-pointers.

>> UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to Odessa, Texas to take on the University of Texas-Permian Basin for an exhibition game at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21.