ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Cherise Beynon stuffed the stat sheet, hit two major milestones along the way, but New Mexico’s defensive intensity was on point in the fourth quarter and UNM hit key shots in the fourth quarter as the Lobos defeated Nevada 59-50 to sweep the series and move within a half game of second place.
Beynon scored her 1,000th point in the first quarter and grabbed her 500th rebound in the fourth quarter as a part of a 19-point, six-rebound effort. She added six assists and four steals, and while she had eight turnovers, she was nearly flawless after the first quarter with a 3-to-1 assist to turnover ratio.
“We got beat on the offensive boards and turned it over way too much early, but we found a way in the fourth quarter to stay in front,” said head coach Mike Bradbury, who saw his team improve to 11-9 and 7-3 in the Mountain West. On whether or not it was one of those games that you just have to win despite not playing its best basketball, Bradbury agreed. “Absolutely. We really had to grind it out and make shots. I’m proud of them.”
Those turnovers and Nevada’s offensive rebounding meant that UNM was down after the first quarter 13-11, and the game stayed close throughout the second, but a key 8-0 run to end the half and start the second seemed to set a tone. With the game tied at 29, head coach Mike Bradbury called timeout and drew up a perfect play to get Alex Lapeyrolerie open for a three to beat the clock, one of three she hit on the night.
UNM then pushed the lead to eight out of the half, but Nevada fought back with a 12-3 run to take a 42-41 lead. After a trade of two Lapeyrolerie free throws for a basket, UNM took the lead for good with Jaisa Nunn hit Richelle van der Keijl for a layup and a 44-43 lead. UNM would get a Beynon basket to complete the third quarter, and the Lobos never trailed again.
Anytime it looked like Nevada might close the gap, UNM’s defense was there. UNM at one point in from the end of the first quarter to midway through the second force Nevada into a woeful 2-for-15 stretch, and that productive defense showed again in the fourth. After a Teige Zeller basket at the 8:25 mark made it 50-46, Nevada missed seven straight shots and twice had the ball stolen away.
With that defensive run, it was still just 53-48 after Nevada broke through, but Lapeyrolerie iced the game with a three from the corner with 2:37 to go. A basket by van der Keijl and a late Beynon free throw made it 59-50, UNM’s largest margin, and also the final tally.
Now, the team gets to pretend they are in the NBA, or a conference tournament, as the Lobos turn right around and face off with Northern New Mexico tomorrow at 2 p.m. at WisePies Arena. The game is a replacement game for the Eastern Illinois game, which was canceled due to weather conditions that prevented Eastern Illinois from making it from the Midwest.
Postgame Notes: New Mexico vs Nevada
January 28, 2017
UNM: 59 – Nevada: 50
Team:
· UNM Head Coach Mike Bradbury has a 11-9 record with the Lobos, and is 10-4 inside WisePies Arena – The Pit.
· The Lobos are 7-3 in the Mountain West Conference. UNM is now 3-1 at home vs. the Wolf Pack in WisePies Arena – The Pit.
1st Quarter:
· #0, Cherise Beynon – 6 points
· #4, Alex Lapeyrolerie – 5 points
· Nevada had a 37.5 field goal percentage vs. New Mexico’s 33.3 percent.
· New Mexico trailed behind Nevada 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.
2nd Quarter:
· #0, Cherise Beynon – 3 points (9 total)
· #4, Alex Lapeyrolerie – 3 points (8 total)
· #44, Jaisa Nunn – 6 points
· UNM had a 42.9 field goal percentage vs. Nevada’s 23.5 percent.
· Lobos led Nevada 32-29 at the end of the first half.
3rd Quarter:
· #0, Cherise Beynon – 3 points (11 total)
· #22, Mykiel Burleson – 9 points
· Both UNM and Nevada shared a 33.3 field goal percentage.
· Lobos led the Wolf Pack 46-43 at the end of the third quarter.
4th Quarter:
· #0, Cherise Beynon – 8 points (19 total)
· #4, Alex Lapeyrolerie – 5 points (13 total)
· UNM had a 37.5 field goal percentage vs. Nevada’s 27.9 percent.
· Lobos defeated the Wolf Pack 59-50.
Team/Individual Highlights:
· #0, Cherise Beynon hits the milestone of 1,000 points with 1:42 left in the first quarter.
· #0, Cherise Beynon also hit the milestone of 500 rebounds with 7:23 left in the fourth quarter.
· #32, Kianna Keller has new career-high of 6 steals.
· The last time the Lobos had 10+ steals was against Utah State on 1-4-17.