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Lobos' win streak snapped at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball program-best 11-0 start came to an end as six 3-pointers by Oklahoma in the first quarter combined with cold UNM shooting dug the Lobos a hole it couldn’t get out of as they suffered their first loss of the season 105-63 Saturday afternoon at the Lloyd Noble Center.
 
The Lobos (11-1), playing without injured starting center Jaisa Nunn, shot just 24.1 percent (7-for-29) and turned the ball over 16 times in the first half while Oklahoma (5-5) shot 50 percent (21-for-42), including 7-for-19 from 3-point range (was 6-for-13 in the first quarter) as UNM trailed 56-25 at the half.
 
“That was a tough one all the way around,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said. “We were running sets we haven’t run that much in game situations and it showed. … Plus we had a tough time keeping them off the glass. But we will get right back after it.”
 
Overall the Sooners shot 47.1 percent from the field, including hitting 15 of their 38 3-point attempts. As for the Lobos, they finished the game shooting 27.4 percent and were 11-for-33 from 3-point range. UNM also struggled against Oklahoma on the glass, being outrebounded 60-32 (including 20-6 on the offensive glass). The Lobos finished with a season-high 23 turnovers (had turned the ball over more than 13 times just once on the year).
 
Alex Lapeyrolerie led UNM with 18 points and seven rebounds – going 4-for-9 from 3-point range. Mykiel Burleson finished with 14 points (going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line) while Tesha Buck had nine points.
 
The loss also means the Lobos’ chance to have the longest winning streak in program history was lost as UNM twice had won 11 games in a row (1977-78 and 2003-04).
 
The Lobos return home for their next game as UNM hosts Lamar 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.