Lobos fall at SJSU, drop first MW game

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team suffered its first loss in conference play as hot-shooting San Jose State defeated the Lobos 95-86 at The Event Center.
 
The Spartans went 19-for-34 (55.9 percent) from the field, including 7-for-10 from 3-point range, in the second half to outscore UNM (15-2 overall, 3-1 Mountain West) 53-37 over the final 20 minutes.
 
“We’ve got to get better defensively and that’s my fault,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said. “I promise you we are going to get to work on that.”
 
On the flip side, the Lobos shot 14-for-37 (37.8 percent) from the field – including 3-for-17 from 3-point range – in the second half. That’s compared to shooting 50 percent in the first half (18-for-36) and 7-for-16 from beyond the arc.
 
The Lobos led 49-42 at the half before a pair of SJSU (5-10, 2-2) 3-pointers and another basket to start the second half gave the Spartans a 50-49 lead less than two minutes into the quarter.
 
UNM took the lead back and led by four when a Jaisa Nunn basket gave the Lobos a 67-63 lead with 2:04 left in the third. But the Spartans went on a 5-0 run to end the quarter to take a 68-67 advantage.
 
A Cherise Beynon drive and score with 6:51 remaining in the game gave the Lobos a 74-73 lead – but it would be their last lead as San Jose State outscored UNM 23-12 the rest of the way to come away with the victory.
 
Nunn paced the Lobos with 31 points (her second 30-point effort of the season) to go along with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Tesha Buck had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, Alex Lapeyrolerie had 13 points and six rebounds while Beynon just missed her third career triple-double with nine points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.
 
Myzhanique Ladd led San Jose State with a career-high 27 points.
 
The Lobos return to action 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when they travel to take on Wyoming.